Phil Molyneux, a 23-year veteran of Sony’s European electronics operation, has been named President and Chief Operating Officer, Sony Electronics Inc. (SEL), in San Diego, CA. At the same time, Stan Glasgow has been named to the newly created position of Senior Advisor, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group, Sony Corporation of America (SCA). Both announcements were made today by Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Sony Corporation, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sony Corporation of America. The appointments are effective September 1, 2010.
Mr. Molyneux, in his new role, will oversee the electronics business of Sony Corporation in the United States, working closely with both the Consumer, Professional and Devices and the Networked Products and Services Groups of Sony Corp. As Managing Director of Sony Central and South East Europe (SCSE) since 2007, Mr. Molyneux has overseen all business management and development for both consumer and professional products across the 20 countries that make up that region. He will relocate to SEL’s headquarters in San Diego.
In his new position, Mr. Glasgow will utilize his wide-ranging professional experience to help fuel Sony’s future revenue and profit. He will develop strategies and business plans for potential growth areas utilizing Sony’s specialized competencies, technologies and knowledge. He will also serve as Chairman of Sony Electronics Inc. Mr. Glasgow has been the President and Chief Operating Officer of SEL since March 2006, overseeing its business operations in the U.S. Before joining Sony, he spent more than 20 years in Hong Kong managing operations, as well as mergers and acquisitions, throughout Asia for both General Electric and Capetronic, a worldwide OEM display company.
“Phil’s unique combination of technical knowledge and broad management experience will tremendously benefit Sony’s electronics business in the U.S.,” said Mr. Stringer. “He was educated as an electromechanical engineer, and has effectively and expertly managed an extraordinarily diverse electronics business for Sony in a key region of Europe. He has faced enormous challenges and, through a steadfast focus on the consumer, as well as innovative and inspirational leadership, has achieved growth in both profits and market share. He knows how to lead, to win, and I am very pleased that he will bring his considerable, proven skills to SEL, and also further our mission to expand our global management team.”
“Stan has been a strong and inspired leader, especially during the past two years under nearly unprecedented global economic turbulence,” continued Mr. Stringer. “He made difficult choices that, ultimately, made Sony Electronics in the U.S. more efficient and better positioned to regain momentum. Stan’s dedication and professionalism has been a key part of the Company’s ongoing global transformation, and we are delighted that he will now apply his entrepreneurial skills to help drive new business opportunities for Sony.”
Mr. Molyneux has spent more than two decades at Sony. As Managing Director of SCSE since 2007, based in Budapest, he created a new business model for Sony’s consumer and professional products designed to engage a highly diverse consumer population and increase operational efficiency to drive business growth within this developing region. SCSE has emerged within Sony as a leading innovator of best marketing, sales and operational practices, and is a top 10 revenue contributor to the Company’s global electronics business. Mr. Molyneux’s geographic area of responsibility at SCSE grew from 14 to 20 countries.
From 1997-2007, while based in the U.K., his responsibilities had been expanded to include manufacturing, systems and related software, core technology and retail peripheral products. He led Sony’s entry into the computer peripheral retail market and played a pivotal role in Sony’s expansion into component supply for the mobile phone market.
Mr. Molyneux joined Sony in 1987 as a sales engineer to develop untapped business for the Semiconductor and Component unit in the U.K. Over the next 10 years, in both sales and marketing positions, he expanded that business across Europe, and led Sony to the No. 1 market share position in several related areas, including magnetic and optical drive technology. Before that, he was a customer support engineer for Hewlett Packard for two years.
Mr. Molyneux was awarded an apprenticeship in electromechanical engineering with the U.K. Ministry of Defense and completed his studies in 1982. He then studied computer technology at the College of Central London.
Mr. Glasgow’s 30-plus years of consumer electronics and computer experience have included oversight of total sales and marketing management, in addition to design, engineering and financial supervision of consumer electronics products in the United States and abroad.
Prior to his role as head of SEL in the U.S., Mr. Glasgow was President, Sony Electronics Consumer Sales Company, where he managed the company’s retail and online sales operations and strategy in the United States. Before that, he was Senior Vice President of Sony Electronics Information Technology Products Division. He joined Sony in 2001 as Vice President of Computer Displays.
Prior to joining Sony, Mr. Glasgow was the owner and president of Capetech Sales, which sold display products and consulting services to Asian electronics companies. He was CEO of Capetronic Computer Products Holdings Ltd., having held a variety of executive positions at the company before that appointment.
In his new role, Mr. Molyneux will report to Mr. Kiyoshi Shikano, Global Sales & Marketing Officer, Sony Corporation, and to Tokyo headquarters senior executives for non-Sales & Marketing activities. Mr. Glasgow will report to Mr. Stringer in the latter’s position as head of SCA.