Satomi is known as the founder of Sammy Corporation, which merged with the Japan-based video game and arcade game producer Sega to form the holding company Sega Sammy Holdings.

Hajime Satomi withdrew from Aoyama Gakuin University in November of 1975 and founded Sammy Corporation.

Sammy experienced significant growth when it began manufacturing machines for the pachislot and pachinko industry (one of Japan's most popular forms of gambling) and was successfully listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in March 2001.

Satomi, Sammy's president, succeeded Hisao Oguchi, who has now become vice chairman and chief creative officer of the new board.

The announcement came two months after Sammy, bought 22.4 percent of Sega for 45.33 billion yen ($427 million), becoming the largest shareholder in the company.