Sony’s Stringer May Step Down as CEO by March 2012, New York Post Reports

Sony Corp. (6758) Chief Executive Officer Howard Stringer may step down from the position at the end of the fiscal year in March, The New York Post reported, citing people it didn’t identify.

Stringer will likely stay on as chairman, the publication reported. Executive Deputy President Kazuo Hirai is “widely believed” to become Stringer’s successor, the newspaper said.

Phone calls to Shiro Kambe, a Sony spokesman, and Sue Tanaka, a company spokeswoman, after normal business hours weren’t answered. Tokyo offices were closed today for a local holiday.

In March, Sony promoted Hirai to oversee a new unit combining cameras, televisions and other consumer electronics, making him a possible successor to Stringer as CEO. Stringer, the CEO, president and chairman of Sony, said at the time Hirai is gaining the “leadership position” to replace him and the company could still consider more candidates for the three positions he held.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mariko Yasu in Tokyo at myasu@bloomberg.net;

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Tighe at mtighe4@bloomberg.net