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Sony has appointed a new President and CEO after Howard Stringer announced that he’s going to back down from those positions. As the former CEO Stringer will become the Chairman of Board of Directors, Kazuo Hirai has been promoted after a series of “great” things he has done to help Sony get back on its track during a difficult beginning of 2011.

Kaz Hirai will occupy his role as of April 1st, while Howard Stringer will become Sony’s Chairman as of June 1st although until then he will be the company’s Executive Chairman. Sony has just announced its quarterly earnings and there are signs that the company will get through this tough period, and Mr. Hirai is the right man to lead.

Howard Stringer praised Hirai, and revealed that Sony’s board looked at him since 2009. The former CEO said that the succession plans involved a man with a tough mind and great leadership skills, and Kaz Hirai was the only one to get out to the ordinary.

According to Howard Stringer, he was the one who always proposed Hirai for promotion, and he did so twice last year when the now-CEO became Executive Deputy President, while last fall he promoted Kaz to the rang of Chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment.

Although we’ve disagreed with many of Sony’s actions in the past, including the fact that PSN account details were stored in plain view waiting for the hackers to get them, Kaz Hirai is the right man who the company needed. Mr. Hirai talks often with Sony fans, he is “likeable,” has a good sense of humor, and he always stays close to the public.

If it were to ask me, then I’d say that Hirai was the one who helped Sony build up its reputation ever since the hackers attacked the company last year. Kaz will look to turn Sony’s attention to innovative technology, cloud support, better content, and to build a better relationship with the fans.

Stringer looked pretty confident that Hirai will help the company grow in the following months and years, while Kaz thanked the former CEO for his kind words. Mr. Hirai played down his role in last year’s salvation saying that Howard made some great decisions.

Kaz Hirai added that Sony will focus on the electronics markets where new digital imaging technologies will be released, on smartphones, on PS3 games, and on new TVs. Well, we’re going to wish him good luck, and we’re going to have to wait to see what 2012 will bring to us.