New managing director’s office established in EMEA, reflecting importance of the region within OKI Group

Egham, Surrey, UK, 31st March 2011: OKI Europe Limited has announced major changes to its senior management team as Tets Kawamura, current CEO OKI Europe, resumes his role as Managing Director, OKI Data Corporation.

Terry Laidlaw, previously regional vice president, Eastern Region, has been appointed managing director, OKI Europe Ltd, effective 18th April 2011, with the primary responsibility of managing the EMEA region. Laidlaw who has over 35 years experience in the office automation and IT industry, joined OKI in 1992 and has since successfully built a strong business across Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

“Terry has nurtured these businesses, bringing them into the OKI family,” confirms Harushige Sugimoto, president of OKI Data Corporation.  “His passion, drive and strong management skills make him ideally-suited to take OKI Europe on to the next exciting phase of our development.”   

Reporting to Laidlaw, Harry Takahashi, formerly divisional general manager within the strategic planning office of OKI Data Corporation, will take on the newly created role of deputy managing director, OKI Europe, from 1st April 2011. He will support Laidlaw with the day-to-day management of the OKI Europe group.  Takahashi joined OKI in 1982 and has held a number of roles within the organisation, both in Japan and in Europe, most recently as vice president of marketing for the EMEA region.

Piotr Nowak, regional vice president CEE, will take over Laidlaw’s previous regional vice president role and will have combined responsibility for the company’s Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Region and the previous Eastern Region, including the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East and sub-Sahara Africa.

“In opening a new managing director’s office in OEL, the company recognises the increased importance of EMEA to the OKI Group as a whole,” says Laidlaw. “In a tough economic environment, we have a robust team in place across EMEA who will lead OKI Europe into the new financial year, taking a stronger more consolidated approach to business within the region.”

Hiro Hayashi, VP marketing will return to OKI Data Corporation headquarters in Japan at the end of March, to head up the Global Services and Solutions Division, where he will shape the direction of the company’s flagship managed print services and document solutions division.  Taking his place in OKI Europe will be Tetsuya Kuri, currently responsible for Global Managed Print Services. 

“This is an important year for the OKI Data group,” says Sugimoto, “we have very challenging targets to meet as our stakeholders have high expectations from the organisation.  With this new management structure in place, I am confident that our EMEA region is in a strong position to deliver.”