Egham, 2 April 2015 – OKI Europe Ltd has restructured its senior leadership team, adding new talent to achieve significant growth targets and strategic business objectives.
The move is part of the organisation’s ongoing strategic commitment to delivering business growth in the Office Solutions, Professional Print and Vertical Industry segments.
Taka Nakano, previously Vice President, Eastern Region and Iberia at OKI Europe Ltd, with direct responsibility for sales operations in Eastern Europe, Middle East, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Sub-Continent, has transitioned to the role of Deputy Managing Director.
Massimiliano Tedeschi, previously Managing Director and Country General Manager at Lexmark International Italy, has been appointed as OKI Europe’s new Director, Business Development, with immediate effect.
“We are delighted to confirm that Taka Nakano has taken on this new role. I expect our new management team will benefit considerably from Taka’s vast experiences in multiple roles in an international environment,” says Terry Kawashima, Managing Director, OKI Europe Ltd. “I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Massimiliano Tedeschi. The addition of Massimiliano to the senior management team will reinforce our ability to deliver accelerated success for our strategic business segments.”
Taka Nakano joined OKI Electric Industry in 1987 as part of its Overseas Sales and Marketing Division. In 1994, he moved to the newly-formed OKI Data Corporation as Account Manager for OKI Europe Ltd. Following this, Nakano held several senior roles across Germany, the Americas and Europe, before becoming General Manager, EMEA Sales and Marketing, with responsibility for overseeing communications between OKI Data Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and OKI’s EMEA companies, as well as representing the product requirements of the region.
Over the past 15 years, Massimiliano Tedeschi has worked at several multinational companies and channel organisations in Europe including Xerox and Olivetti, with responsibility for business solutions. Prior to joining OKI as Director, Business Development, Tedeschi spent 12 years working as Managing Director and Country General Manager at Lexmark International, Italy.
In his new role, Tedeschi will work to consolidate and build on OKI’s strong position in the European office print market by developing a consultative, value-added sales approach across the EMEA organisation.
In addition to these new appointments there will be a change in the regional structure which includes a consolidation of the nine existing OKI Europe international regions to four. This will include a new Northern and Western Region comprising the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden; an Eastern Region including Central and Eastern Europe, Turkey, Middle East, the Indian sub-continent and Sub-Saharan Africa; a Central Region covering Germany, Holland, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland. France, Spain, Italy and Portugal will form a theoretical Southern Region, however, they will continue to report directly into OKI Europe, with no regional Head Office. This new arrangement will enable each region to share their knowledge, resources and skill sets to drive the OKI business forward.
Following on from these changes, Miroslav Tyburec will extend his geographical responsibility as Regional Vice President Eastern Region, covering both Central and Eastern Europe. Takaaki Hagiwara, Managing Director of OKI Systems UK, will take up a new role as Regional Vice President for the Western and Northern Region. OKI Europe Deputy Managing Director, Phil Scrase, and Gerard Bouhanna, Vice President of Consumables Sales and Distribution Support, will both retire after more than two decades each with the business. Patrik Philipson, Regional Vice President for Northern Europe, will also leave the organisation.
“On behalf of OKI Europe, I would like to thank Patrik for his strong leadership and contribution in developing the Scandinavian business over recent years,” says Kawashima. “I would also like to pay tribute to Phil and Gerard and thank them for their significant achievements and dedication to the business.”
In addition, OKI Europe continues to focus on strengthening and growing its channel by reinforcing the channel management team and bringing consumables under a single channel management tier.
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Notes to Editors:
About OKI Europe
OKI Europe Ltd is a division of OKI Data Corporation, a global business-to-business brand dedicated to creating cost effective, professional in-house printers, applications and services which are designed to increase the efficiency of today’s and tomorrow’s businesses.
The company is well-established as one of Europe’s leading printer brands, in terms of value and units shipped. For over 60 years OKI Europe has been delivering advanced printing solutions worldwide, introducing ground-breaking technologies that support the needs of businesses large and small. Our pioneering development of digital LED printing technology has placed OKI at the forefront of the market in delivering high-definition, eco-friendly printing devices.
In addition to a vast portfolio of award-winning printers and MFPs, OKI offers a range of services to help optimise print and document workflows. This, together with an integrated suite of software technologies and tools, can help businesses take control of their print and document costs in a secure environment, whether office based, mobile or in the cloud.
Today OKI Europe employs approximately 1,100 people in 21 locations (sales offices and production sites) and is represented in 60 countries throughout the EMEA region.
Visit www.okieurope.com for further information.
OKI Data Corporation is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd., established in 1881 and Japan’s first telecommunications manufacturer.
Media Contacts:
OKI Europe Ltd: Pamela Ghosal: Pamela.Ghosal@okieurope.com, +44 (0) 208 2192127
Whiteoaks: Simon Moss/Clarah Filtness: simonm@whiteoaks.co.uk +44 (0) 1252 727313