Tokyo ( CNN ) -- Norio Ohga , the former president and chairman of Sony Corporation who helped to develop the compact disc , died Saturday of multiple organ failure , the company said . He was 81 . Ohga worked for what is now Sony as a consultant and adviser while still a music student in Tokyo , before joining the company full time in 1959 . He rose to the ranks of chairman and president and is credited with driving the company 's growth in movies , video games and music . Ohga saw the potential of the compact disc early and spearheaded Sony 's efforts in that area , the company said . His training as a musician led him to push for a 12-centimeter format , providing enough storage to allow listeners to hear all of Ludwig van Beethoven 's Ninth Symphony without interruption , according to Sony . Those specifications are still in use today . The company sold the world 's first CD in 1982 and within five years , CD sales overtook LP record sales in Japan . Ohga is also credited with launching Sony 's game business and was head of Sony when it bought Columbia Pictures in 1989 . He was a senior adviser to Sony at the time of his death . `` By redefining Sony as a company encompassing both hardware and software , Ohga-san succeeded where other Japanese companies failed . It is no exaggeration to attribute Sony 's evolution beyond audio and video products into music , movies and games , and subsequent transformation into a global entertainment leader to Ohga-san 's foresight and vision , '' Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer said in a statement . `` I offer my deepest condolences on his passing and pray that he may rest in peace . ''
Ohga is credited with helping to develop the compact disc . He led the company 's growth in music , games and movies . Ohga died of multiple organ failure at 81 .