Stringer takes the helm at Sony's games group

New Sony CEO Howard Stringer is to take direct control of the company's Game Business Group, in the latest in a series of major reshuffles at the senior executive level of the giant Japanese firm.

Stringer also retains his position in charge of the company's Entertainment Business Group - incorporating the music and movie operations - which effectively places him in charge of the entire media division of Sony.

Ken Kutaragi, the so-called "Father of PlayStation" who was hotly tipped to become the next CEO or President of Sony before Stringer and Ryoji Chubachi respectively were named to those roles in a surprise announcement last month, will remain in his position as head of Sony Computer Entertainment. However, he will now report directly to Stringer.

Last month, Kutaragi told the Japanese press that he was "really glad" that Stringer had been appointed as the new CEO, commenting that the former Sony America boss "works very hard" and emphasising that the pair have always shared a good working relationship.

He downplayed talk of resigning from Sony after the perceived snub of being demoted rather than elevated to the president's chair, saying that "there's much I want to do - I have been leading SCE [until now], and I will continue to be its leader. I will remain at Sony. I'm still young. It's my goal to keep moving forward."