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Andrew House
Andrew House
Andrew House
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Andrew House (born 23 January 1965) is a Welsh businessman and the former chair of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE).[2][3] He previously served as President and Global CEO of SIE. House started working for Sony Computer Corporation in 1990, working in the Tokyo-based corporate communications department. Five years later in 1995, he transferred to SCEI's marketing and communications to contribute to the launch of the PlayStation gaming system. March 1996, he was promoted to Vice President of Marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), then promoted again in 2002 to Executive Vice President of SCEA. From 2005 to 2009, Andrew House was the chief marketing officer of the Sony Corporation. From 2009 until 2011, House was co-CEO and then CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), then became President and Group CEO of SCEI, replacing Kaz Hirai. In 2013, House led the conference which revealed the PlayStation 4. In 2017 House announced he would step down as head of Sony Interactive Entertainment at year end.[4]

Key Information

House is fluent in Japanese.[5]

References

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Andrew House

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Andrew House (born 23 January 1965) is a British businessman renowned for his in the during a 27-year career at Corporation, where he rose to become President and Global CEO of , overseeing the development and launch of the console, which became the fastest-selling platform in PlayStation history with 73.6 million units sold as of December 2017. Born in , , House earned a degree in English Language and from the in 1986 before joining Corporation in 1990, initially working in corporate communications at the company's headquarters. Over the next two decades, he advanced through key marketing and executive positions, including for Corporation from 2005 to 2009 and President and CEO of Computer Entertainment Europe from 2009 to 2011, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the PlayStation brand globally. In 2011, he was appointed President and Group CEO of Computer Entertainment, guiding the division through the transition to the era, strengthening the to reach 70 million monthly active users, and launching innovative services such as —the industry's first console platform—and , an interactive live TV streaming service. Under his leadership, the Game & Network Services segment evolved into a major profit driver for the Group, including the development and market introduction of in 2016. House transitioned from operational management at in October 2017, remaining as Chairman until the end of the year to ensure a smooth handover, after which he pursued board and advisory roles across industries. As of 2025, he serves as an Independent Outside Director and Chair of the Nomination Committee at Motor Co., Ltd., an Outside Director at Dentsu Group Inc., and an External Director at Company, Limited, while also acting as an executive mentor at The ExCo Group and strategic advisor to Intelity.

Early life and education

Early years

Andrew House was born on 23 January 1965 in , . House spent his early childhood and formative years in before his family relocated to in , , where he attended . During this period, he developed an interest in international experiences, expressing a longstanding desire to work abroad that would shape his future path. In the late 1980s, following his university studies, House decided to emigrate to through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme administered by the Japanese Ministry of Education, where he taught English in . This move marked the beginning of his exposure to Japanese culture and international professional environments.

Academic background

Andrew House attended the , where he studied at Oriel College from 1983 to 1986. In 1986, he earned a degree in English Language and Literature. Following graduation, House spent two years teaching English at Japanese high schools as part of an exchange program, during which he immersed himself in the language and culture by self-studying Japanese, including reading and writing its scripts. This experience further developed his linguistic proficiency and global perspective before entering the professional world.

Career at Sony

Initial roles in Japan

Andrew House joined Sony Corporation in October 1990, taking up a position in the Tokyo-based corporate communications department. As a recent graduate from the with a degree in English literature, his background equipped him to handle communication-oriented tasks effectively. In this entry-level role, House was responsible for public relations efforts, including managing press interactions and supporting to maintain Sony's global corporate image from its Japanese headquarters. He contributed to key announcements during this period, such as early promotions related to Sony's innovative products, helping to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps in a predominantly . As one of Western employees, House adapted to Japanese corporate culture by drawing on his prior two years teaching English in , where he immersed himself in the language and customs, fostering resilience and cross-cultural proficiency. House held this position until 1995, spending five years building foundational expertise in corporate communications amid Sony's dynamic expansion in consumer electronics.

Leadership in European operations

In May 2009, Andrew House was appointed President, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-Chief Operating Officer of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), relocating to London to oversee the PlayStation business across nearly 100 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and PAL territories. This role built on his prior experience in global marketing as Sony Corporation's Chief Marketing Officer since 2005, where he had shaped brand strategies worldwide, and his earlier positions at Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), including leading marketing for PlayStation launches in North America. Under House's leadership, SCEE managed comprehensive operations encompassing sales, marketing, third-party relations, and developer support, focusing on regional expansion and strengthening the PlayStation ecosystem in a competitive market. House's tenure at SCEE emphasized innovative pan-European marketing strategies and operational efficiencies, particularly for the (PS3), which had launched in 2006 but faced initial challenges. He directed campaigns that highlighted the console's multimedia capabilities and value propositions, such as the introduction of the slimmer PS3 model in , which drove a significant sales uplift. By fiscal 2010, PS3 achieved a global of 31%, up from 18% the previous year, with strong demand in contributing to Sony exceeding its sales targets of 15 million units for the year. These efforts included targeted promotions during peak seasons, resulting in robust holiday performance and positioning PlayStation as a market leader in the region. A key aspect of House's leadership involved fostering third-party partnerships and to enhance content availability and platform adoption across . He prioritized collaborations with publishers and developers to secure exclusive titles and broaden the software library, which supported PS3's momentum and prepared the ground for future hardware like the . These initiatives not only boosted regional sales but also solidified SCEE's role in Sony's global strategy, with House overseeing a turnaround in PS3 fortunes through improved ecosystem support and . By , his contributions had helped stabilize and grow the European operations, leading to his subsequent promotion to global leadership roles.

Global executive positions

In October 2005, Andrew House was appointed as Group Executive Officer and (CMO) of Sony Corporation, marking his transition to a senior role at the company's headquarters. In this position, he held global responsibility for coordinating and unifying Sony's efforts across its diverse and divisions, aiming to streamline brand messaging and promotional activities company-wide. House's tenure as CMO coincided with Sony's broader efforts under Chairman to reposition the brand toward entertainment and innovation during the mid-2000s, including initiatives to foster cross-divisional collaborations that integrated with . His prior successes in North American marketing, particularly with the PlayStation brand, informed these global strategies by emphasizing consumer engagement and regional adaptability. House served as CMO until 2009, after which he transitioned to his role leading SCEE. In June 2011, House was promoted to President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE), succeeding Kazuo Hirai and assuming oversight of the company's worldwide PlayStation operations from . This role built on his marketing expertise to guide SCE's global expansion and integration within Sony's ecosystem. Prior to his CMO position, House's career progression included key roles in PlayStation development and marketing. In 1995, he transferred to Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) as Vice President of Marketing, contributing to the launches of the original PlayStation and PlayStation 2. From 2000 to 2002, he served as Senior Vice President of Third-Party Relations and Developer Services at SCEA. In 2002, he returned to as Corporate Executive Officer at SCE, overseeing aspects of the PlayStation business until his 2005 promotion.

Head of PlayStation divisions

Andrew House was appointed President and Group CEO of Computer Entertainment (SCE) in June 2011, succeeding Kazuo Hirai and assuming responsibility for the global PlayStation business. Under his leadership, SCE navigated a period of transition in the gaming industry, leveraging House's prior experience in marketing to inform strategies focused on consumer engagement and platform evolution. House oversaw the launch of the (PS4) console in November 2013, which emphasized enhanced capabilities and improvements to , including social sharing features and seamless integration with online services. The PS4's design prioritized accessibility for digital downloads and streaming, marking a strategic shift toward a more connected ecosystem that addressed previous criticisms of the PlayStation 3's complexity. During this era, House managed competitive pressures from Microsoft's and Nintendo's offerings, particularly in the race for next-generation dominance, by highlighting PlayStation's strengths in hardware affordability and content ecosystem. He also addressed challenges with the (PSN), including recovery from security breaches and expansions in online multiplayer and cloud services to bolster user retention amid rising expectations for always-on gaming. In 2016, House led the merger of SCE with Sony Network Entertainment International to form (SIE), serving as its Global CEO and consolidating operations under a unified structure based in . This reorganization aimed to streamline digital and network services, enhancing PSN's role in delivering live services and content distribution. Key decisions during his SIE tenure included a continued emphasis on exclusive titles, such as critically acclaimed first-party games that differentiated the platform, alongside investments in emerging technologies. Notably, House championed the launch of in October 2016, positioning it as an accessible entry into with over 50 titles available from launch through year-end, including exclusives like The Playroom VR, to drive innovation in immersive gaming experiences. House announced his retirement from in October 2017 after 27 years with the company, with the transition effective in April 2018 following a period as Chairman to ensure continuity. His departure marked the end of a transformative phase that solidified PlayStation's market position through strategic pivots to digital and networked gaming.

Post-Sony career

Board directorships

Following his departure from in 2017, Andrew House assumed several non-executive board roles, applying his expertise in global brand strategy and gained during his tenure at the company. In June 2019, House was appointed as an Independent Outside Director at Motor Co., Ltd., where he also chairs the Nomination Committee. His contributions emphasize enhancements and strategic oversight in areas like digital and international operations. House joined the board of Nordic Entertainment Group—later rebranded as AB—in May 2021 as a , supporting the streaming platform's growth amid its expansion into new markets. He served in this capacity until declining re-election in April 2024. In March 2022, House was appointed as an External Director at Company, Limited. Also in March 2022, he became an Independent Outside Director at Dentsu Group Inc., participating in the Audit and Supervisory Committee while advising on global strategy. House's involvement focuses on fostering and brand development to bolster the agency's presence in over 145 countries.

Mentorship and advisory roles

Following his departure from Sony in 2017, Andrew House has served as an executive mentor at The ExCo Group, a global leadership development firm formerly known as Merryck & Co., where he joined in October 2018 to guide senior executives through career transitions and strategic challenges drawing on his extensive technology leadership experience. In this role, House focuses on fostering , particularly in multinational environments, by sharing insights from his tenure scaling Sony Interactive Entertainment's operations across , , and digital services. House has also contributed to advisory efforts in emerging technology sectors, joining the advisory board of KEYPR, a hospitality technology startup, in April 2018 to provide strategic guidance on product innovation and market expansion. KEYPR, which specializes in mobile-first solutions for the hotel industry, later integrated with Intelity, where House continues as an advisor, leveraging his background in to advise on user-centric digital experiences. Through platforms like The ExCo Group, House has engaged in public discourse on in dynamic industries, including a 2024 interview sharing lessons on adaptability and innovation for executives navigating technological shifts. These contributions build on his PlayStation-era emphasis on long-term console ecosystems, as he has advocated for extended hardware life cycles to sustain global in interactive entertainment.

Recognition and legacy

Impact on the gaming industry

Under Andrew House's leadership as president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment from 2011 to 2016 and of from 2016 to 2017, remaining as chairman until the end of the year, the PlayStation brand underwent a significant revitalization during the challenging PS3 era and the successful transition to PS4. The PS3 had incurred substantial financial losses for , with hardware subsidies and high development costs contributing to years of unprofitability in the gaming division. House's strategic oversight helped steer the company toward recovery by learning from these setbacks, including pricing missteps and market positioning errors, to launch the PS4 at a more accessible $399 price point in 2013. This move propelled PS4 sales to exceed 10 million units within its first year, outpacing the PS2's early performance and ultimately achieving over 117 million units sold lifetime, reestablishing PlayStation's market leadership against competitors like Microsoft's . House played a pivotal role in advancing digital ecosystems that reshaped gaming consumption, notably through the expansion of PlayStation Plus and the . Under his tenure, PlayStation Plus evolved from a basic online multiplayer service into a comprehensive subscription model offering monthly free games, cloud saves, and exclusive discounts, amassing over 52 million monthly active users on the by 2014 and influencing industry-wide adoption of similar services like . The became a cornerstone of , enabling seamless access to indie and AAA titles, while House championed the 2012 acquisition of for $380 million, which powered the launch of in 2014—a cloud streaming service that allowed users to play PS3 titles on PS4 without downloads, foreshadowing broader trends and reducing reliance on physical media. These initiatives not only boosted recurring revenue for but also democratized access to gaming libraries, setting precedents for subscription-based and streaming models across the industry. House's advocacy for developer support and inclusive gaming fostered a vibrant ecosystem of exclusive titles and third-party collaborations, enhancing PlayStation's cultural impact. He oversaw initiatives like the 2009 Publishers Fund and self-publishing programs, which supported over 1,000 indie studios and led to more than 100 indie games in development for PS4 by 2014, promoting diverse narratives and innovative gameplay that broadened gaming's appeal beyond traditional demographics. This included backing Naughty Dog's series, a critically acclaimed exclusive launched in 2013 that explored mature themes of survival and human connection, garnering widespread praise for its storytelling and contributing to PlayStation's reputation for high-quality, narrative-driven experiences. House's emphasis on developer tools and partnerships also influenced Sony's competitive dynamics, positioning PlayStation as a leader in exclusive content against and , while acquisitions like strengthened infrastructure for multi-platform competition.

References

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  52. https://gamingbolt.com/sonys-andrew-house-discusses-the-shift-to-digital-on-ps4
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