PRESS ROOM

TOSHIBA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS OF TWO INDUSTRY VETERANS TO TOP SUBSIDIARY POSITIONS

Fred C. Berger Named President of TBS-Florida/Georgia and Mark Downing Named President of TBS-California/Nevada

IRVINE , California   ( Apr 15, 2009 ) :

Toshiba Business Solutions today announced that industry veterans Fred C. Berger and Mark Downing have been named as president of its TBS-Florida/Georgia subsidiary (TBS-FL/GA) and TBS-California/Nevada subsidiary (TBS-CA/NV) respectively. Berger took over as president of TBS-FL/GA April 1, and Downing was promoted into the position of president of TBS-CA/NV effective April 13.
 
“The nationwide TBS organization has proven to be a highly effective business model, yielding solid and sustained success with tremendous potential for market expansion,” said Wayne Wilkinson, senior vice president and general manager, TBS. “As a result, when we began the process of filling these leadership positions, the caliber of external candidates attracted to our organization greatly exceeded our expectations. Both Fred and Mark bring a depth of experience in leading channel direct organizations and have a proven track record of growth and success that will strengthen our organization beyond what was previously possible.”

In their new positions, Berger and Downing will direct all aspects of business within their regions, including sales, service, administration, operations, marketing and distribution with full P/L responsibilities, the same as all other TBS subsidiary operations. 

Prior to joining TBS-FL/GA, Berger was senior vice president of Ricoh Business Solutions, where he led a division that encompassed $500 million in revenue throughout 16 markets in the United States. During his seven-year tenure at Ricoh, Berger also was instrumental in the integration of Ricoh Business Systems with Lanier Corporation into what is now Ricoh Business Solutions. Prior to that, Berger was vice president of Operations for Danka Business Systems out of St. Petersburg, Fla. where he facilitated the acquisition and integration of more than 40 companies into the established operations.

Before joining TBS-CA/NV, Downing held the role of vice president of Operations for TBS’ national organization, based out of the Irvine, Calif. headquarters. Prior to that, he served as president of TBS-Michigan for seven years and as vice president of Finance and Administration of TBS-Kentucky for four years, providing him with a diverse background and experience that will be valuable in his new role leading TBS-CA/NV. 

“The recent presidential vacancies were little more than a temporary distraction as we have strong internal resources that lead the organization in the interim to the selection of Fred and Mark,” continued Wilkinson. “While we never like to see any executive leave TBS or TABS for any reason, I can say that TBS overall will be a stronger organization for having gone through this process and making these management changes.”

About Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc.

Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. (TABS) manages product planning, marketing, sales, service support and distribution of copiers, facsimiles, multifunction printing products, network controllers, and toner products throughout the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TABS has five divisions:  the Electronic Imaging Division; the Toner Products Division; the Document Solutions Engineering Division; the International Division; and TOPAC U.S.A., Inc., dba Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS), a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation of TABS, that operates a network of wholly-owned office equipment dealers throughout the United States.

Named the most favored manufacturer ten times by the Business Technology Association (BTA), Toshiba’s entire product line, customer support and marketing distribution policies are markers for the industry. Among the many other awards garnered in recent years, Toshiba was named the “Manufacturer of the Year” eight times by Marketing Research Consultants (MRC), and has twice been named to the CIO 100 for being among the top 100 “bold” (2005) and “agile” (2004) companies in the world.

TABS is an independent operating company of Toshiba Corporation, the seventh largest electronics/electrical equipment company and the world's 91st largest company in terms of sales. Ranked by Fortune magazine as the eighth Most Admired Electronics Company in the World, Toshiba Corporation is a world leader in high technology products with more than 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. Fiscal year revenue in 2007 was approximately $76.6 billion. 

For more information on Toshiba copiers, facsimiles, multifunction printing products, network controllers or toner products, or for a dealer in your area, call (800)-GO-TOSHIBA or visit the TABS Web site at www.copiers.toshiba.com.