Howard Stringer

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Sir Howard Stringer

Stringer at opening night of the 2009 Metropolitan Opera
Born February 19, 1942 (1942-02-19) (age 68)
Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Occupation Chairman, president and CEO, Sony Corporation
Spouse(s) Jennifer A. Kinmond Patterson

Sir Howard Stringer (born February 19, 1942) is a Welsh-American businessman and the Chairman, President and CEO of the Sony Corporation.

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[edit] Personal life

Stringer was born in Cardiff, Wales, the son of Marjorie Mary (née Pook) and Harry Stringer.[1] In July, 1978 Stringer married Jennifer A. Kinmond Patterson. They have two children. Stringer emigrated to the United States in 1965 where he became a naturalized citizen in 1985.[1] He also served in the Vietnam War in the U.S. armed forces. His younger brother, Rob Stringer, is Chairman of Sony Music Label Group. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on December 31, 1999.

Stringer attended the Oundle School and received an MA from the University of Oxford in Modern History.[2]

[edit] Career

Stringer had a 30 year career at CBS where he was a journalist, producer and senior executive. He served as President of CBS from 1988 to 1995 where he was responsible for all the broadcast activities of its entertainment, news, sports, radio and television stations.[2]

[edit] Highlights of his career at CBS

  • Executive Producer of "CBS Reports" (1976-1981)[3]
  • Executive Producer of "CBS Evening News with Dan Rather" (1981-1984)[3]
  • President of CBS News (1986-1988)[3]
  • President of CBS, Inc. (1988-1995)[3]
  • He won nine Emmys at CBS for the following programs: "The Rockefellers", "The Palestinians", "A Tale Of Two Irelands", "The Defense Of The United States", "The Boat People", "The Boston Goes To China", "The Fire Next Door", and "The CIA's Secret Army".[2]

[edit] Sony

Stringer began work at Sony in May 1997. Since June 2005 he has been Chairman and CEO of Sony responsible for the whole of Sony including its media and electronics subsidiaries such as the Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Electronics, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Financial Holdings. On April 1, 2009 he became President of Sony Corporation, ousting Ryoji Chubachi in a move which is seen as the first part of a corporate restructuring.[4] He also serves as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Corporation of America. He has been President of Sony Broadband Entertainment Corporation since March 2000.[2]

Stringer previously was head of the Sony Corporation of America and was promoted to the company's top position because the corporation overall was having trouble with losses and was facing increasing competition from other companies like Samsung, Sharp, Apple Inc. and Panasonic. He primarily worked in the media industry and was responsible for the media segment of Sony in the United States by overseeing the release of the Spider-Man movie series among others.

[edit] Awards and honors[2]

  • He received the U.S. Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement for service in Vietnam (1965-1967).
  • He earned nine Emmys from 1974 to 1976 as a writer, director and producer.
  • In 1996 he was awarded the First Amendment Leadership Award by the Radio & Television News Directors Foundation.
  • In 1996 he was also inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame.
  • In May 1999, he received the UJA-Federation of New York's Steven J. Ross Humanitarian Award
  • In November 1999, he was inducted into the Royal Television Society's Welsh Hall of Fame.
  • On December 31, 1999 he received the title of Knight Bachelor from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
  • In February 2007, the Museum of Television and Radio awarded him with its Visionary Award for Innovative Leadership in Media & Entertainment.
  • He has been honored by Lincoln Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the New York Hall of Science.
  • He received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Glamorgan in Wales and University of the Arts London.
  • In 2000 he received an honorary fellowship from Merton College, Oxford
  • In 2001 he received an honorary fellowship from Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

[edit] References

[edit] External links

  1. ^  Stahl, Leslie. "Sir Howard Stringer: Sony's Saviour?" CBS News, 8 January 2006
  2. ^  Griffiths, Katherine. "Sir Howard Stringer, US Head of Sony: Sony's Knight." The Independent, 18 September 2004
Preceded by
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CEO of Sony Corporation of America
1998–present
Succeeded by
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Preceded by
Nobuyuki Idei
CEO of Sony Corporation
2005–present
Succeeded by
'
Preceded by
Nobuyuki Idei
Chairman of the Board of Sony Corporation
2005–present
Succeeded by
'