Shares in the company have hit a two-year high as analysts forecast full-year operating profit of $500bn (£3.5bn). Analysts said Sony’s forecast was largely in line with consensus estimates. However, many – including Goldman Sachs and Jefferies – believe that the company could now beat its previous record profit of $525bn set almost two decades ago.

Hirai was at the controls in 2014 when Sony suffered a highly embarrassing hack attack by North Korea in response to the company’s film The Interview, which poked fun at the rogue state. Since then, Hirai has helped to steer it back to health, focusing increasingly on video games and film production.

Shares in Sony have risen almost a fifth in the past year despite set-backs caused by the lingering impact of earthquakes which disrupted production a year ago.