Business - Appointments

Mutoh, an industry leader in wide-format printers, has appointed Tom Testa as Mutoh America Inc.'s Southeastern regional sales manager. Testa's background in the wide-format industry makes him a perfect fit for his new position with Mutoh.
 
Working under the guidance of the Director of Sales, Gary Rudnick, Testa will be responsible for creating and managing sales in the Southeastern United States. He will maintain relationships with Mutoh dealers and customers, while increasing brand awareness in the Southeast.
 
Testa has been appointed as the first Southeastern regional sales manager in the new Atlanta-area based office. He is looking forward to using the office to host events and create networking opportunities.
 
Prior to his position with Mutoh, Testa's career has taken him throughout the wide-format world. He has held previous marketing and sales positions with companies such as Xerox and Kodak. Testa has even owned and operated his own sign shop. His experience in the manufacturing world and as an end user inspires him to drive sales.
 
"It is exciting to work on the manufacturing side of the wide-format world once again," shares Testa. "I know what it takes to run a successful sign business and am looking forward to relating with our customers on the print shop level."

Michael Reiher has been appointed by Enfocus to the newly-created role of Product Manager, North America.  This appointment reflects the company’s ongoing expansion with dedicated focus on the North American market and marks a significant move toward balancing product management activities worldwide, with designated "representative" input from different regions.

The decision to modify the company’s organisational structure to better represent the range of customer requirements around the world fulfils Enfocus’ “You First” commitment to its growing customer base.

“Michael brings relevant perspective on the North American market in particular, and has many hard-hitting programs already in the works,” Prudhomme says. “His previous success with Dynagram and Adobe Systems, Inc. will undoubtedly be a valuable asset. He is a natural fit for our powerhouse North American team.”

In addition to a customer support facility, Enfocus employs industry veterans Steve Hosford and Alex Hamilton, VAR Channel Manager and Director of Business Development, respectively, in North America.

Prior to joining Enfocus, Reiher was most recently the Director of Sales and Marketing for Dynagram. He previously held the positions of Senior Product Manager in the Adobe/Aldus Prepress Division at Adobe Systems, Inc.; Director of Marketing and Business Development at Imaging Partners, Inc.; General Manager at LizardTech, Inc.; Director of Marketing at Imation Publishing Software (Luminous Corp.); and Marketing Manager at Moore Corp., Interactive Marketing Solutions.

Reiher says, “Enfocus has a great product line, a progressive strategy and some of the brightest and best talent I’ve had the pleasure to work with. I’m looking forward to helping bring the North American voice to the product team, in order to deliver even more innovative and valuable solutions.”

An accomplished writer, moderator and speaker, Reiher holds an A.S. in Advertising Design from the Colorado Institute of Art and received a certificate in Software Development, Marketing and Sales at the University of Washington.

 

Tech8, the technical support and spares provider for the wide format printing industry, today announced the appointment of Graham Parkinson to the role of Technical Account Manager.  With over 20 years experience across all aspects of the printing industry, Graham is ideally qualified for this newly-created position.

His primary responsibility will be the development of mutually beneficial technical support partnerships with key customers throughout the UK and Europe.

Having spent 10 years working in a production environment – and gradually working his way up to managing the whole operation – Graham truly understands the technical challenges faced by print businesses.

In subsequent years, Graham held key technical support positions within major manufacturers including Roland and Mimaki with responsibility for servicing and supporting end users.

In joining Tech8, Graham is moving to a more commercial role where his significant experience from all sides of the industry will allow him to further develop Tech8’s ever-expanding range of products and services.  His appointment is crucial in aiding Tech8’s ambition to become the leading UK provider of printer after-sales care and support.

According to Justin Atkinson, Technical Services Manager at Tech8, “Graham’s appointment will really help to drive the business forward.  Our core business is the provision of tailor-made warranties and exemplary customer service, as well as the provision of competitively-priced spare parts for all major printers.”

Graham adds, “I am delighted to join Tech8 in this business development role.  Some manufacturers view support as a costly overhead, whereas the provision of first-class service is Tech8’s sole purpose.  We offer printer owners a dedicated support resource and I’m convinced that our approach offers a compelling alternative to existing technical support provision.”

Further information on Tech8 can be found on their website at www.tech8.eu

Avery Dennison has appointed Liam Hannon to the newly-created post of Technical Specification Specialist within its European Graphics and Reflective Solutions division.   In this role, he is responsible for providing technical support for both customers and the Avery Dennison sales team – particularly for specification business --  and for developing relationships with his technical counterparts in customers’ organisations.   He additionally will focus on serving the needs of the European railway market segment.

Liam is no stranger to Avery Dennison customers.   After some time in the Roll Materials Europe division,he moved in 2006 into the field of graphic and reflective products as sales manager, direct accounts, for the UK, and more recently added responsibility for the Division’s Irish distributor base.   As before, he is based in Dublin, Ireland.

Liam continues to report to Bron Hekkema, Sales Director, Europe for Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Solutions, who says:  ‘Liam’s extensive technical expertise and experience in the company extends beyond his work in this division into specialty labelling applications for Fasson® roll products. He brings to his new role a particularly broad insight into meeting the needs of our customers and providing solutions to their most challenging applications.’

The Board of Directors of Mutoh Holdings, Ltd., Japan, has appointed Brian Phipps to the Board of Directors of its U.S. subsidiary Mutoh America Inc., located in Phoenix, Arizona.

Phipps will begin his new role as of June 1 st , 2011, and will keep assuming his current functions as General Manager of Mutoh America Inc.

Phipps' new assignment has three main goals: promote Mutoh America's leading role in the wide-format inkjet printer and professional sign making plotter markets, explore new niche markets and develop strategic plans to ensure Mutoh's continued growth in the Americas.

"I am honored and pleased to be appointed to the Board of Directors for Mutoh America," sharesPhipps. "I look forward to the new challenges ahead and working with a great team of employees that make my job very rewarding."

At age 46, Phipps has been active in the wide-format business for over 15 years. During this period, he has held positions in sales, marketing and business management. Since 2004, he has been involved with Mutoh's sales activities and was promoted to General Manager of Mutoh America in April of 2010.

Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Solutions has promoted Carlo Kölker to the position of Business Manager, Traffic and Safety, for Europe and the Middle East.   In this new strategic role, he will drive growth as part of the global Traffic and Safety team, co-ordinating customer responsiveness; supporting  the regional sales managers;  developing key customer relationships;  implementing new business programmes; streamlining and optimising business processes;  and managing the new product and project pipeline.

Carlo Kölker joined Avery Dennison in 1996 as a Customer Service Representative, and has progressed through a series of increasingly-senior sales and marketing positions – most recently as European Segment Manager, Traffic and Safety.   He is a graduate in international business administration.

Reporting directly to the global General Manager, Traffic and Safety, and with a dotted reporting line to the Sales Director, Avery Dennison Graphic and Reflective Solutions Europe, Mr Kölker will continue to be based at European divisional headquarters in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands.