[FirmwareBurner]

>Language probably plays a non-insignificant role.

Maybe so, but even Sony and Nissan had non-Japanese speaking CEOs for a while and Japan is not really know for its openness and progressiveness to foreigners.

Also, we're talking about global tech companies which reap profits from the global economy, so fluency of the local language that's only spoken by 5% of the world's population shouldn't matter that much, when those mega-corps hire teams of cultural and language experts for each market anyway.

I'd say it's more culture, mentality and protectionism of the status quo, than the language itself.

[whimsicalism]

Which Sony CEO are you referring to?

I think the Nissan case is a bit of an exception and if anything demonstrates how reluctant the Japanese are to have major Japanese multinationals run by someone not Japanese.

[FirmwareBurner]

Howard Stringer and Andrew House were head honchos at Sony.

[tapoxi]

House was Sony Computer Entertainment (PlayStation) which is based in San Mateo.