Sony denies Kaz Hirai presidential promotion

On Friday, a report in Japanese business publication Nikkei stated longtime Sony employee Kaz Hirai was to be named Sony Corporation president as early as April. Today, however, Sony is refuting that claim, saying that "nothing has been determined at this time."

"Certain media reports were published on January 7, 2012 (JST) regarding Sony Corporation's executive officers' appointments," reads a line from the terse statement. "Sony Corporation has made no announcement in this regard and nothing has been determined at this time."

The Friday Nikkei report also stated that current Sony CEO and chairman Howard Stringer would remain CEO following Hirai's ascension to president.

Hirai joined Sony in 1984 as part of its music group. In 1995, he transferred to Sony Computer Entertainment America, rising through the ranks to become its president and CEO. In a 2006 management shake-up, Hirai replaced Ken Kutaragi as president of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. in Japan, where he helped turn around the then-money-losing PlayStation business.