Sony UK sales boss quits before impending PS3 launch

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Feb 13th 2007 at 12:15PM }

Man overboard! MCV reports that Kevin Jowett, head of sales for Sony UK, has resigned in order to pursue a career outside of the games industry. With the March 23 Euro PS3 launch just over five weeks away, his timing has likely caused quite a stir, with MCV commenting that the move may briefly disrupt negotiations between Sony and UK retailers.

A UK high street executive is noted as saying, "Kevin is going just as Sony is talking to everyone about terms and arranging pre-orders and in-store marketing campaigns. Obviously, Sony is a big organisation and there will be people there who can fill Kevin's position. But this can't be helpful to them."

Though the launch is unlikely to be overtly affected, you can be sure that an already challenging task just became tougher for those behind the curtain.

Tags: Euro PS3, EuroPs3, Kevin Jowett, KevinJowett, PS3 launch, Ps3Launch, Sony UK, SonyUk

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Myke @ Feb 13th 2007 12:19PM

I love Sony to death, I really do, I own both a PS1 and a PS2 but this is just funny to me, that man overboard comment was golden too, btw.

Diman @ Feb 13th 2007 12:19PM

Can't wait for all the comments.....(anti flame suit on)

nodnetni @ Feb 13th 2007 1:01PM

HA HA ha ha Ha ha ha HA HA ha ha Ha ha ha

FLAME ON!!!!

Agent MOO @ Feb 13th 2007 12:22PM

hehehehehehehhe... ow... coffee squirted out of my nose

MegaWatts @ Feb 13th 2007 12:23PM

Obvisouly Joystiq hates Sony. Obviously Joystiq forced this man to quit from Sony. Awful...

sheppy @ Feb 13th 2007 12:24PM

You know, I gave them a link to news stating that Woolworth's expects this launch to be even more successful than PS2 and their store is, personally, selling one preorder every 20 seconds, that doesn't get news. Wii sellouts get news.

But someone retires in a region where preorders are doing very nicely and it's a sign of "bad times ahead."

Thanks, Joystiq.

Jake @ Feb 13th 2007 12:24PM

MS fanboy "Ha! He's bailing now while he can still find a job. Even he knows PS3 is teh falurz."

Sony Fanboy "you MS fanboys over-react to every little snippet. Joystiq Bias! How is 360 doing in Europe you turd-burglar's."

Nintendo fanboy "The wii has motion sensing controls. It is the future of gaming. You see where PS3 releasing PS2 games with HD is getting them."

Normal person "Why all the corporate shuffling at Sony recently. That usually isn't a good sign."

That should about sum up the pending flame war. I am anticipating a relatively mild confrontation. Perhaps 46 comments total.

Robotic House Plant @ Feb 13th 2007 1:20PM

Sony has experienced a number of changes as of late. Key people leaving or changing jobs is typically a sign that things are not well internally.

This can be both good and bad.

Bad in that you're losing key talent.

Good in that, if things are not working as they are, perhaps it is time for a change.

Dan Chippendale @ Feb 13th 2007 12:33PM

Oh dear Sony... They don't need a sales director anyway.. not as if they're gonna sell many units...

DBX00 @ Feb 13th 2007 12:35PM

Maybe another firm offered him more money and Sony distributed bonuses in early February so the timing was right to leave and start a new job. This is normal in the business world, employees have no loyalty to a firm in this day and age.

Bennyishere @ Feb 13th 2007 12:34PM

It's a conspiracy!

Myke @ Feb 13th 2007 12:37PM

Jake - No way bro, this is easily going to break 50+ comments. Especially with the likes of sheppy showing up this early. Now we just need Shaggi, NintendoFanbot, 32_footsteps (who isn't really annoying, I just love how he riles all the other ones up) and a couple of 360 fanboys and we're golden. I'm gonna go make some popcorn, this should be fun

Myke @ Feb 13th 2007 12:37PM

Myke @ Feb 13th 2007 12:38PM

hahaha, sorry guys, I'm not trying to pad the comment stats by posting multiple times, my work computer just sucks, we'll -2 from the final post count for the tally =)

maximus @ Feb 13th 2007 12:52PM

Won't make a bit of difference. PS3 pre-orders are proving very popular at least in the UK.

Larry @ Feb 13th 2007 1:49PM

So how soon before Howard Stringer resigns in complete success?

Fhaze @ Feb 13th 2007 1:55PM

The PS3 has to be successful over in Europe. They have to claim victory in at least 1 region. Maybe if they bundle it with a Wii.

Hellsing @ Feb 13th 2007 12:59PM

It's on now fanboys. Grab your E-peens and get ready to fight.

Miniboss @ Feb 13th 2007 1:06PM

@ 5.

"You know, I gave them a link to news stating that Woolworth's expects this launch to be even more successful than PS2 and their store is, personally, selling one preorder every 20 seconds, that doesn't get news. Wii sellouts get news.

But someone retires in a region where preorders are doing very nicely and it's a sign of "bad times ahead."

Thanks, Joystiq."

Well, if you take a look over at Kotaku, they're running with a story about the confusion of whether or not the PS3 is actually doing that well in pre-orders. They DO cite anecdotal evidence, though, so it's nebulous at best.

Not only that, but if I recall, pre-orders for the PS3 in the US were quite good too. Sony will still be shipping less consoles to the UK than Nintendo did. So in any case, record pre-orders is a moot point for now. We'll see how it goes later.

LunarDuality @ Feb 13th 2007 1:09PM

Off topic: (like most everyone here) Pre-orders won't tell the story of how well the PS3 will do in the UK and Europe. That's because those with the money and desire will do what they must to procure a PS3 ASAP. It's what happens *after* pre-orders are filled (and eBay quiets down) that matters most. And if they have supply gluts (like in many places in Japan and the U.S.) they could have the same build up of units which creates a negative "nobody wants one" image.

Back to the topic: This does seem strange timing even if it won't directly affect the launch that much. And yeah, this much corporate reshuffling is usually a bad sign for a company. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it plays out.

Myke @ Feb 13th 2007 1:13PM

Hey Sony fanboys, come here, I gotta tell you something. No, I'm serious, come closer. Closer, here, I'll whisper it in your ear so those dirty 360 and Wii owners don't know the secret. Come here, closer....ok, do you wanna know something? K....(deep breath)....EVERY CONSOLE WILL SELL OUT ON IT'S LAUNCH DAY!!!!!!!!!

bigc @ Feb 13th 2007 5:53PM

hey incase anyone has not heard yet i just saw that activison and id just announced and confirmed that quake wars is coming out for the ps3 and xbox 360 and by the way sorry im not posting comments about the sony boss thing just thought i would let everyone know about this

Pedro @ Feb 13th 2007 2:23PM

Sony fanboys:

Xtiq is teh biased!! This means nothing. Ps3 isn't in toruble. He just quit so he would have more time to play a real system unlike the shitbox 3 shitty!!! Or a little lats gen system like the penus-i mean wii. GraphiX matter, kiddies! They dind't during the ps2 era because it had way more games but graphics matter now!! LOLXOR!

Joe @ Feb 13th 2007 1:33PM

But but but....but the guy in the cubicle next to me sent his xbox in for repairs again! Can't we run that story again instead of ANOTHER story about Sony executives jumping ship? Doh!

Kye @ Feb 13th 2007 1:35PM

"Though the launch is unlikely to be overtly affected"

Yeah... because the launch has been really smooth so far, hasn't it.

Marty @ Feb 13th 2007 1:33PM

"Obvisouly Joystiq hates Sony. Obviously Joystiq forced this man to quit from Sony. Awful..."

LOL

White Cloud @ Feb 13th 2007 1:34PM

Wow, Sony sure do hire a lot of overweight people. Getting rid of one of them should release a bit of the strain.

Kye @ Feb 13th 2007 1:35PM

*flame gear on*

Hokay im ready!

Rubang B @ Feb 13th 2007 1:37PM

Nintendo hired this man 10 years ago to sabotage this launch and quit. The bombs have already been placed in all the key locations. Expect him to star as the floating head in the next Brain Age in 2008.

Slaziman @ Feb 13th 2007 1:39PM

Ha! He's bailing now while he can still find a job. Even he knows PS3 is teh falurz.

gwangi @ Feb 13th 2007 1:42PM

And when the 360 came out everyone was bashing that. It's the in thing to do.

Dale Massey @ Feb 13th 2007 1:50PM

Sony are sending a LOT more PS3s than Nintendo did Wiis to the UK.

Wii's are still out of stock everywhere in the North Wets, even up to now. 2 months after launch. Most small places seemed to be getting about 20 - 30 Wiis per store. Similar stores are getting 100 PS3's. Bit of a difference,

Maybe it's just how Sony are sending more machines to gaming stores than they are ASDA and woolworths.

Rob @ Feb 13th 2007 1:53PM

Sounds like a Bail Out to me....I'm guessing he too can see the writing on the wall.

Jake @ Feb 13th 2007 1:58PM

I do find it odd that the Europe PS3 dude quit. It seems the PS3 will have more success in Europe than elsewhere.

Shmil @ Feb 13th 2007 1:59PM

didn't everyone pre-order the ps3 in america too? and then they sold the pre-ordered ps3's on ebay, pre-orders are worth 2 things, jack and shit

Slaziman @ Feb 13th 2007 2:02PM

@31

The PS3 is also coming out way later than the Wii in Europe, so tell me, how much Wii's have been sold in Europe in total? More than there will be PS3's at launch.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 13th 2007 2:04PM

Sony will not make their sales goals at the European launch.

Neither, however, do I feel the European launch will be a disaster and I don't think that Sony not making their unrealistic sales goals is the death knell for PS3.

MS has failed to meet their sales goals over and over for 360 (launch goals, 2005 goals, "10M by the time PS3 comes out", and the recent downward revision from 14M to 12M by the end of Q1 calender 2007), and yet it is a success.

Hudson922 @ Feb 13th 2007 2:12PM

@Shmil

and jack left town.

NintendoFanbot @ Feb 13th 2007 2:13PM

You know a REALLY SMART apologist who wants to fan the flame away from Sony would mention Nintendo Europes's Jim Merrick. He's gone, but apparently Nintendo did well. I'm not sure about Sony though because PS3 is doing pretty oafish elsewhere.

But asshats are too quick to crap on fans. And they don't think hard enough.

Wii controls are the future, Kutaragi sucks crab rolls, I HATE HD WITH A HELL-BORNE MALICE and all that stuff.

Crono @ Feb 13th 2007 2:22PM

Nice, nintendofanboy. nice!

Je2037 @ Feb 13th 2007 2:46PM

"fanboy"/"joystiq is bias" jokes are getting to be as routine as Conan's monologue. Come guys on lets get crackin' on some new material.

Mr Khan @ Feb 13th 2007 2:52PM

Wierd, everyone seems much milder today

Maybe its because High Schools are just now letting out, and any teenage posters aren't home yet
(Not me though, SNOW DAY!!) :P

REUYL @ Feb 13th 2007 3:06PM

"If you can find a PS3 anywhere in the UK that's been on the shelf for more than five minutes, I'll give you 1200 quid for it!!"

-Kevin Jowett

samfish @ Feb 13th 2007 3:38PM

You all have no idea how hard I'm going to laugh when the news breaks next month that PS3's can easily be found in abundance the day after the launch.

Anonymous Rep @ Feb 13th 2007 3:41PM

From a launch sales perspective, this probably won't mean much. Those gamers that are planning on buying a PS3 will do so. The rest of the European public that aren't hardcore or paying that much attention will do the same thing the general public here has done - "It's HOW MUCH? Are you nuts?"

From a retailer perspective, this may cause some issues, in that you may see some distribution or marketing issues as a couple of people change positions at Sony.

From an analyst and market perspective, you've got to be thinking - why did the head of sales bail out before the launch? He's the guy who KNOWS the marketing campaigns, KNOWS all the inside plans, and most importantly, KNOWS that if his job performance is linked with a failed launch similar to that in the U.S., then he's committing corporate suicide.

Yes, the launch for PS3 was a failure, as far as the general public was concerned. At 3 months after launch, there should still be hype about the product among NON-GAMERS. There's just not - it's still the Wii, just as last year it was still Xbox 360. The PS3 has finally sold most of the inventory that's been sitting on the shelf since mid-December - the point is that it shouldn't have been sitting there in the first place. (Jack, we KNOW that they were sitting there!)

So what's the net result? Analysts such as Bloomberg and others will probably not like this in the least, and THAT'S going to mean more corporate and shareholder negative publicity for Sony - which also means the general public will see more negative articles about Sony in the regular media.

Sony gets another stock downgrade or doesn't pull a financial miracle out of somewhere, and the financed money they owe WILL put them into bankruptcy. You can have tremendous sales - but if your profits don't meet your actual loan payments, you're going under. I would hate to be someone with a lot of Sony stock shares right now in my portfolio - it's nail-biting time.