Decision time

Sony’s financial troubles are well documented. If you’re not up to speed, then know this: the company is expected to report a whopping £2.1billion loss in its latest financial report. That’s not particularly healthy.

Of course, that’s also the reason that former SCE president – and lifetime Ridge Racer fanboy – Kaz Hirai has been promoted to the position of CEO. The executive, who has described Sony’s situation as close to crisis, is expected to outline his recovery plans this month – but it sounds as though Japanese newspaper Nikkei might have gotten the scoop early.

It’s reporting that Sony is to cut 10,000 jobs before the end of 2012. To put that into perspective, that’s a whopping 6 per cent of the Japanese giant’s entire global workforce.

At present it’s unclear what this will mean for Sony’s (relatively successful) PlayStation business, but Hirai has described video games as one of the company’s main pillars in the past. As such, it’s unlikely there’ll be too much impact in this sector.

It’s also believed that Sony will ask its seven executive directors who served up to the end of the current fiscal year, including former boss Sir Howard Stringer, to return their bonuses.

The hair on Kaz Hirai’s head is turning greyer by the second.

[source reuters.com]