Tsuyuzaki Promoted at Panasonic

26 Jun, 2009 By: Thomas K. Arnold

Eisuke Tsuyuzaki

Eisuke Tsuyuzaki has been promoted to chief technology officer for Panasonic Corp. of North America.

Tsuyuzaki was previously managing director of Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory. In that capacity, he directed Panasonic’s next-generation entertainment research and development efforts in the United States, focusing first on Blu-ray Disc and, most recently, on 3-D.

Since he assumed that post in 2005, Tsuyuzaki has become a familiar face in Hollywood studio circles, deepening Panasonic’s ties with the software and creative communities. He is regarded as the consumer electronics industry’s chief champion of, and de facto spokesman for, Blu-ray Disc.

He has participated in a number of panels, conferences and seminars with his studio counterparts, and talked up the format in both the trade and the consumer media. He also masterminded several big Blu-ray Disc promotions, including a well-received tie-in with NASCAR.

Before joining Panasonic, Tsuyuzaki held leadership positions in corporate development and technology functions at Sony Corp. and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

As Panasonic’s new chief technology officer, Tsuyuzaki succeeds Dr. Paul Liao, who is leaving Panasonic to become president and CEO of Cable Television Laboratories Inc. (CableLabs), the non-profit research and development consortium founded by the nation’s cable system operators.

“We are confident that Eisuke Tsuyuzaki will be the right technology strategy leader for Panasonic in North America at a time when converging technologies are creating so many new opportunities,” said Yoshi Yamada, chairman and CEO of Panasonic Corp.of North America. “Eisuke’s expertise in technology standards and strategic alliance-building and his understanding of the needs of the content creators will be great assets for Panasonic as he takes on his new role.”