Kaz Hirai is President and Group CEO, SCEI. He's also Networked Products & Services Group. He's also Chairman, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. He's also the man who replaced 'father of PlayStation', Ken Kuturagi. He's incredibly busy, with overview of huge chunks of Sony's business.

He now has a deputy in the form of long Sony veteran, Kunimasa Suzuki, who is currently senior vice president and Deputy President, Networked Products & Services Group (NPSG).

According to the company, "Suzuki will report to Kazuo Hirai, and assist him in managing the day-to-day operations of the PlayStation business overall. He will specifically be responsible for the areas of strategy and product planning, with both the Strategy Planning Division and Product Planning Division reporting directly to him."

"Suzuki combines strong leadership qualities with a profound knowledge of network business and strategy that he has accumulated over many years working in the area of consumer products, such as VAIO. Together with Hirai, he will now spearhead the PlayStation business, where the network will now play an even greater role in expanding the business going forward."

Okay, enough of the background. Hirai getting a deputy to help out can also be read as Hirai getting a successor in training before Kaz goes onto bigger and better things.

Of course, it can just be that he's getting a deputy. We don't think.