Sony Ericsson, the handset joint venture, has announced that its president, Miles Flint, is to step down in order to pursue other interests. From November 1st this year, Flint will be replaced by Hideki ‘Dick’ Komiyama, who is currently chairman of Sony Electronics Inc, USA, and executive vice president for Electronics Marketing and Sales Strategies of Sony Corporation, Japan. Flint will remain as an adviser to Komiyama until the end of 2007.

Flint has presided over good times at Sony Ericsson since becoming president in 2004, with the company reporting a succession of strong quarters, investing in greater portfolio breadth, working on scale, and strengthening its position in the global handset vendor rankings. The most recent figures from Gartner gave Sony Ericsson a nine per cent share of the market in Q207, a year on year increase of nearly two and a half per cent, and occupies fourth place in the tables, behind Nokia, Motorola and Samsung.

Flint joined Sony Ericsson from Sony Europe and has spent 17 years at Sony and Sony Ericsson. “I wish to develop new personal and business opportunities and intend to take a short career break before deciding on my next steps,” Flint said.

The leaders of Sony Ericsson’s parent companies were forthcoming in their praise for Flint’s work. Carl-Henric Svanberg, president and CEO of Ericsson (and chairman of Sony Ericsson) described Flint’s contribution as “impressive”, going on to say that “we are very sorry to see him leave.”

Sir Howard Stringer, chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation added: “We will miss Miles Flint enormously… Under his leadership Sony Ericsson has doubled sales and volume, as well as more than doubling the company’s profitability.”