ExecutiveWelsh-AmericanKnightJournalist

Howard Stringer

Sir Howard Stringer, a Welsh-American businessman, led CBS and was the first non-Japanese CEO of Sony Corporation, a tenure marked by strategy and criticism.

1. Early Life and Background

Howard Stringer was born on 19 February 1942 in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. His mother, Marjorie Mary (née Pook), was a Welsh schoolteacher, and his father, Harry Stringer, served as a sergeant in the Royal Air Force. His younger brother, Rob Stringer, also pursued a career in the music industry, eventually becoming president of Sony Music Label Group and later CEO of Sony Music Entertainment America.

1.1. Childhood and Education

Stringer's early life involved frequent relocation, leading him to attend 11 different secondary schools by the age of 16. Among these was Oundle School in Northamptonshire, a public school where he studied on a scholarship, as his family was not wealthy during his childhood. He later pursued higher education at the University of Oxford, where he studied Modern History at Merton College, Oxford. He completed his studies, earning both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree from the university. He also held an honorary fellowship from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.

2. Career

Stringer's professional journey began in the United States, where he moved in 1965. His career spanned over three decades in broadcasting before he transitioned into leadership roles in major technology and media corporations.

2.1. Early Career at CBS

After arriving in the United States in February 1965 with only 200 USD, Stringer joined CBS in April of the same year. However, his tenure was briefly interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Army the following month. He served as a military policeman in Saigon, Vietnam, for ten months during the Vietnam War. Stringer later stated in an interview for CBS Reports that he joined the army due to financial difficulties, as military service provided a special allowance. Although he did not serve in combat, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement.

Upon his return from military service, Stringer rejoined CBS, where he built a distinguished 30-year career. He began in various entry-level positions, including answering backstage phones for The Ed Sullivan Show. His talent as a journalist and television producer quickly became evident. From 1974 to 1976, he worked as a writer, director, and director, and in 1976, he became the executive producer of the documentary series CBS Reports. He was involved in the production of impactful documentaries, including hard-hitting reports on the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and Boat people.

From 1981 to 1984, Stringer served as the executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. In 1986, he was promoted to President of CBS News, a position he held until 1988. He then became President of CBS from 1988 to 1995, overseeing all broadcast activities, including entertainment, news, sports, radio, and television stations. During his leadership, CBS successfully acquired the services of David Letterman for his Late Show. However, the network also lost the rights to the National Football League to the emerging Fox Broadcasting Company, which led to several CBS affiliates aligning with Fox. Throughout his time as CBS President, Stringer primarily resided in New York City and the United Kingdom.

2.2. Tele-TV

Howard Stringer in 2008.
Howard Stringer in 2008.

In 1995, Stringer left CBS to take on the role of CEO at Tele-TV, a newly formed media and technology company. Tele-TV was established in February 1995 through a collaboration of US telecommunications companies Bell Atlantic, NYNEX, and Pacific Telesis, alongside the talent agency Creative Artists Agency. The company represented an early and ambitious attempt to provide a video on demand service that streamed content over phone networks. Despite significant investment, estimated at around 500.00 M USD, Tele-TV proved unsuccessful and ceased most of its operations in early 1997. Stringer departed the company at that time, two years after its inception.

2.3. Leadership at Sony Corporation

Howard Stringer's tenure at Sony marked a pivotal period for the global conglomerate, as he became the first non-Japanese executive to lead the company.

2.3.1. Joining Sony and Early Roles

Stringer began his career at Sony in May 1997, having been recruited by then-President Nobuyuki Idei. His initial role was President of Sony Corporation of America, the company's US operational unit. Although his authority and compensation in this initial position were reportedly modest compared to his previous roles, he quickly demonstrated his capabilities. In December 1998, he was promoted to Chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation of America, a role in which he successfully grew the US business into a significant revenue generator for Sony.

His influence within the broader Sony group expanded, and in June 1999, he was appointed to the board of directors of Sony Corporation. By April 2003, he became an Executive Vice Chairman, responsible for the Americas region and the entertainment business. On 22 June 2003, he formally assumed the title of Director and Executive Vice Chairman. His responsibilities further increased on 1 November 2003, when he also took on the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), overseeing the entertainment division.

2.3.2. Chairman and CEO

Howard Stringer's leadership as Chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation began in 2005, a period marked by significant corporate challenges. His tenure involved strategic initiatives aimed at unifying Sony's diverse operations, alongside facing considerable criticism for financial performance and innovation.

3. Personal Life

In July 1978, Howard Stringer married Jennifer A. Kinmond Patterson, a dermatologist. They have two children. Stringer became a naturalized American citizen in 1985, and he holds dual citizenship with both the United States and the United Kingdom. While serving as the chief of Sony in Tokyo, he maintained a home in New York, while his family resided in England.

4. Awards and Honors

Stringer has received numerous awards and honors throughout his distinguished career:

  • U.S. Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement during the Vietnam War.
  • Nine Emmy Awards (1974-1976) as a journalist, director, and producer.
  • Radio and Television News Directors Foundation's First Amendment Leadership Award (1996).
  • Inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame (1996).
  • UJA-Federation of New York's Steven J. Ross Humanitarian Award (May 1999).
  • Inducted into the Royal Television Society Welsh Hall of Fame (November 1999).
  • Appointed Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II on 31 December 1999. (He was eligible for the knighthood despite his US citizenship because he had not renounced his UK citizenship).
  • Merton College, Oxford honorary fellowship (2000).
  • Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama honorary fellowship (2001).
  • Museum of Television and Radio Visionary Award for Innovative Leadership in Media and Entertainment (February 2007).
  • Honored by Lincoln Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, The New York Hall of Science, and The American Theatre Wing.
  • Received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Glamorgan in Wales and University of the Arts London.
  • Received the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Cunard Britannia Award in 2003.

5. Legacy and Evaluation

Howard Stringer's leadership at Sony Corporation left a mixed legacy, marked by both strategic initiatives and significant challenges.

5.1. Impact on Sony

Stringer was appointed to Sony's top position during a period of considerable difficulty for the company, which was grappling with financial losses and intense competition from global rivals. His background, primarily in the media industry, influenced his focus on strengthening Sony's entertainment divisions. He successfully oversaw the release of the Spider-Man film series in the U.S. and orchestrated the profitable investment in Spotify, which generated nearly 1.00 B USD for Sony upon its partial divestment. He also expanded Sony's music business through the acquisition and integration of BMG.

Stringer's "Sony United" vision aimed to break down the traditional "silos" within the company, fostering greater communication and collaboration across its diverse product lines and business units. He sought to transform Sony's corporate culture, encouraging a more unified and adaptive approach in an increasingly digital landscape. His initial efforts also included streamlining Sony's electronics business, exemplified by the Bravia TV joint venture with Samsung Electronics.

5.2. Critical Assessment

Despite his efforts, Stringer's overall legacy at Sony is largely viewed critically, particularly concerning the company's financial performance and innovation in its core electronics business. Sony's stock price plummeted by 60% during his tenure as group chairman and CEO, a decline attributed in part to external factors like exchange rates and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake. However, internal issues also contributed significantly.

Critics frequently highlighted Stringer's perceived "no interest in manufacturing" and the absence of new, iconic hit products under his leadership, a stark contrast to Sony's historical reputation for innovation. The television division, a crucial part of Sony's electronics, suffered eight consecutive years of operating losses until March 2012. His strategic acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) also faced criticism, as Sony reportedly struggled to manage it effectively, leading to the loss of key distribution rights. Stringer himself acknowledged this as a "blunder."

His own candid remarks in 2014, describing running Sony as being "like running a cemetery" where "no one is listening," underscored the deep-seated cultural resistance he faced, particularly the company's "not invented here" mentality. The high compensation he received during his leadership further fueled criticism, as it stood in contrast to the company's declining performance and substantial losses.