Sony CFO's revamp wins over market but tough tasks ahead, say analysts

Tokyo

MONTHS after Sony Corp bought So-net, the broadband provider's chief chided CEO Kazuo Hirai for having his "priorities in the wrong order".

He told Mr Hirai his focus should be on restructuring the struggling electronics conglomerate rather than spending time and effort buying a firm it had previously spun off, said a person familiar with the exchange.

That was two years ago and Mr Hirai was sufficiently impressed to hire Kenichiro Yoshida as Sony's chief strategy officer. Within months, he was promoted to chief financial officer.

Mr Yoshida, a reserved foil to the more flamboyant "Kaz" Hirai, has since sought to turn around Sony with a no-…