Baxter to manage Kyocera's channel
Vendor signs former Winmark analyst to newly created channel development role
Printing and imaging vendor Kyocera Mita has appointed Steve Baxter as its UK channel development manager, a newly created position in the company.
Baxter joined Kyocera from analyst firm Winmark where he specialised in the printer and multifunctional device (MFD) markets.
“Having spent the past 12 years analysing products from Kyocera and its peers, I have developed a strong understanding of what the company aims to achieve and a detailed knowledge of the commercial environment in which it operates. I am looking forward to working with Kyocera’s channel partners to bring the benefits of the company’s printers, MFDs and management software to a wider audience,” Baxter said.
“I have far more of a ‘get out and meet the channel partners’ role than previous channel marketing people at Kyocera,” he told CRN. “The plan is that I’ll be in the office for two days a week and then out for the other three meeting resellers.”
Part of Baxter’s remit involves identifying and recruiting partners and developing new business areas.
“My first task is to get out there and assess what the relationship is between Kyocera and its partners. Then I can identify what areas the resellers are in and where they want to go. I only joined just before Christmas so it is still early days, but we really need to do this formal listening exercise,” Baxter said.
Tracey Rawling Church, head of marketing at Kyocera, said: “Bringing Steve on board will enable us to further develop our channel programme, bringing additional focus to areas such as our PrintSave managed service and advanced management software solutions.”
Leanne Gravil, branch manager at VAR CBC Computers, said: “We’ve been selling Kyocera printers for around four years and already find them to be a touchy-feely manufacturer.”
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