Quick Facts
Biography
Hayao Nakayama (中山 隼雄, Nakayama Hayao, born 21 May 1932) is a Japanese businessman and was the former president of Sega Enterprises, Ltd from 1984 to 1999.
Career
Early Years
Sega
In 1984, he purchased the shares of Sega Enterprises from Bally with the head of a company Rosen purchased in 1979, David Rosen, and the CSK Corporation.
In October 1989, Nakayama hired Michael Katz to make the Sega Genesis a smash hit in America. The mild success of the Mega Drive in Japan gave SOJ high hopes for the success of the American release. The hopes were so high that Nakayama had the rallying cry: "Hyakumandai!" [One million units].
In 1990, Nakayama went to Hawaii to find Tom Kalinske, who had recently left Matchbox. He offered Kalinske the position as president and CEO of SOA [Sega of America]. It was Kalinske's daughter who made him decide to go to Japan. In Japan, they went to a geisha bar and then to SOJ [Sega of Japan's] R&D department. Here, he was shown the Game Gear and the Mega Drive [Genesis in U.S.] This convinced him to work at SOA.
Post Sega
Nakayama left SEGA in 1999 and has since served roles at Microsoft Japan and Virgin PLAY