Tokyo, Japan – September 8, 2020 -- Ascent Robotics Board of Directors announces the
appointment of Ken Kutaragi as Chief Executive Officer – effective August 26, 2020. Mr.
Kutaragi, globally acknowledged as the visionary behind the creation of Sony’s PlayStation, will
be taking the leadership reigns from Masayuki Ishizaki, who co-founded Ascent Robotics and
has been CEO since 2017. Mr. Ishizaki remains on the Ascent Robotics board and has
transitioned to the role of COO on the executive team.
Ken Kutaragi, well known as the "Father of PlayStation" was the former chairman and CEO of
Sony Interactive Entertainment (formerly known as Sony Computer Entertainment) - the
computer game division of Sony, retiring in 2007. Mr. Kutaragi was also COO, Executive Vice
President and Board Director at Sony Corporation, from where he retired in 2005. Over the past
decade, Mr. Kutaragi has been engaged in the venture community, supporting entrepreneurs
and fellow pioneers who share his passion for breakthrough innovation in how machines and
human engage and interact.
Mr. Kutaragi first encountered Ascent Robotics in 2017 through his support of innovative
technology start-ups, and joined Ascent’s Board of Directors in 2018. As Ascent Robotics
continues to advance their solutions to deliver machine autonomy across industrial robotics,
mobility and more, Mr. Kutaragi’s transition into an executive and operational role will further
accelerate Ascent’s momentum within the fast-growing ecosystem. “I am thrilled to be joining
Ascent at this critical period of commercial application and development”, says Mr. Kutaragi, “I
look forward to driving Ascent to emerge as one of the leading pioneers in next-generation AI
and true machine autonomy.”.
Founded in 2016, Ascent Robotics is a Tokyo-based AI venture, developing intelligent solutions
for industrial robotics and mobility. In collaboration with customers across manufacturing,
robotics, and automotive industries, Ascent’s is “building the new code for machine autonomy
– made in Japan, made for the World”
For inquiries: pr@ascent.ai |
