Sony chooses PlayStation head to run Euro division

Sony has shuffled its senior European management, promoting PlayStation marketing chief David Reeves to head its Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) division.

Reeves, who is executive vice-president of marketing and sales, will replace Chris Deering as president and chief operating officer. Deering will head Sony’s European electronics business from April next year.

Deering and Reeves were responsible for the launch of the original PlayStation console in 1995, as president and European marketing director respectively of the then newly created SCEE.

The two have been charged with leading the PlayStation business in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Deering replaces Michiaki Tsurumi, who will retire from the position of president of Sony Europe. Deering will also become chairman of SCEE, as well as retaining his position of chief executive. The appointments leave vacant the top European marketing position above David Patton, vice-president of marketing for SCEE, who reports to Reeves.

Patton says that no decision has been made about the vacancy and adds: “There will be no discussion about if and how the marketing team will be restructured until January at the earliest.”

Deering’s appointment is the next step in attempting to bring Sony’s business in Europe closer together. Last month, the company appointed Andy Griffiths to the position of vice-president of marketing communications for both its consumer electronics and business products across Europe (MW November 27).