Google has named Koichiro Tsujino, a former head of Sony’s personal computer division, to lead its Japanese operations.
Tsujino is currently product management director at Google Japan and will take the new position from Jan. 1, according to a brief statement issued by the company. As president he will be responsible for all aspects of Google’s operations in Japan.
Since he joined Google in 2007 the company has introduced a number of new services in Japan including the Street View stream on Google Maps. Street View allows users to get an all-around view from numerous points along streets in the database.
He will replace Norio Murakami who will go on to become chairman of the Japan operations. In this role Murakami’s will work on outreach and policy issues in Japan and represents a step-up in such activities for the company.
“In this new role, Norio will focus his work as Google’s ambassador in Japan, working with leaders in government, industry and academia,” the company said in a statement.
Tsujino has headed various business units at Sony including its Vaio personal computer operations until 2006. He was also co-head of Connect, Sony’s failed online media effort to take on Apple’s iTunes Music Store and headed the company’s set-top box operations.