Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) reported that Akiro Sato will retire as of Aug. 31 and current president and group CEO Kazuo Hirai will succeed him as chairman. Hirai’s full title will be representative corporate executive officer and executive deputy president, Sony Corporation, and president of the consumer products and services group (CPSG). Ken Kutaragi, honorary chairman of SCE has also retired. Andrew House, president/CEO/ co-COO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), was promoted to fill the position of president/group CEO of SCEI, effective Sept. 1… Jeff Knock, former Electrolux sales director, has been named marketing senior VP for appliances with Nationwide Marketing Group replacing Adam Thomas, who has left the firm. Richard Weinberg, former merchandising VP, named merchandising senior VP for appliances at Nationwide, a new position… Gary Shapiro, president/CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), will deliver a keynote address on the opening day of the 2011 SINOCES, scheduled July 7-10 in Qingdao, China … Mitch Nollman, a 16-year Bose veteran, joins D&M Holdings’ Boston Acoustics today as VP/GM. He is replacing Steve Chilinski, whom the company said in a statement is leaving the company to pursue other career interests. Separately Eli Harary, senior VP at Boston Acoustics, has left the company to start GEM CE, a CE consulting company. He can be reached at eli@gem-ce.com.