Yohei Konaka has officially taken on the role of managing director of Konica Minolta Australia effective immediately, following a delay in his official appointment due to COVID-19.
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| "A challenging and changing business environment": Yohei Konaka, MD Konica Minolta Australia |
Over the past six months, Konaka has been working remotely with outgoing managing director David Cooke and the executive team. “He has been using this time to understand the Australian market, which has given him a valuable head start on creating a vision for the next 12 months, and beyond,” said a KMA press release.
Now that Yohei is in Australia following the mandatory 14 weeks quarantine, he will be meeting employees, employees and dealers around the country as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
In his 20 years with the company, Konaka has held appointments in the US and Canada in sales and strategic planning. Most recently he held a senior role in the Digital Workplace Business at Konica Minolta Inc. in Japan, working on the company’s digital transformation strategy.
“I look forward to taking on this role and continuing to drive the legacy that Dr David Cooke has left, as well as looking at ways to drive Konica Minolta Australia into the future,” Konaka said. “There is no doubt that the global pandemic has resulted in a challenging and changing business environment, and it is important for Konica Minolta Australia, and its customers, to consider the way forward from here to ensure success.”
Cooke will stay on for two months in a consultancy role, where he will continue to help Konaka onboard and meet with employees, customers and partners - "where possible face-to-face, and where not possible, virtually - to ensure a smooth transition."
