Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications announced today that Miles Flint, the current president, will step down for personal reasons. Flint, who became president of the company in 2004 and helped bring the venture to profitability, will remain executive adviser to Hideki Komiyama, currently chairman of the board of Sony Electronics Inc., USA, and EVP Electronics Marketing and Sales Strategies of Sony Corp., Japan, until the end of the year. Komiyama will take up his position as the new president of Ericsson on Nov. 1 of this year. "After nearly 17 years in Sony and Sony Ericsson, I wish to develop new personal and business opportunities and intend to take a short career break before deciding on my next steps," Flint said.
Analysts said the announcement of Flint"s resignation came as a surprise, and took his comments that he had decided to leave for personal reasons at face value. "It"s negative for Sony Ericsson because we largely credit him as the visionary behind the company"s turnaround and its broader strategy," said Richard Windsor, an analyst at Japanese investment bank Nomura.