Known to many in the wide format industry, Bruce Lowery retires as Business Manager for Agfa's Inkjet Products as of 1 March 2007. Steve Taylor will take over the role.
Lowery joined Agfa in 1970 - only five years after Agfa Gevaert commenced independent operations at their iconic Nunawading location in Victoria. Starting in administrative roles, he quickly moved to external sales before being appointed Agfa's youngest manager in the late seventies. With the growth in cameras and Copyproof products in the eighties, he moved into senior management and established a successful distribution channel with multi-million dollar product
turnover.
As industry demand for Agfa technologies changed, so did the product mix. Lowery is credited with helping many long-term Agfa distributors shift focus on declining technologies and grow their businesses through new areas like inkjet printing. Many of those same distributors continue today.
Taylor, another long-time employee, has over thirty years experience in the graphic arts industry and has filled a range of senior Agfa management positions - most recently as Sales Manager for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. He relocated from Auckland to Melbourne in January and is readying himself for a busy year as
Agfa continues growing its digital inkjet printer range. 2006 was all about establishing the correct distribution channels for the :Anapurnas," says Taylor. "We kicked off the New Zealand campaign with Printech in Auckland, and Bruce focused on the Australian launch at the Sydney Visual Impact Image Expo. Both were a great success and we are seeing a lot of interest and sales in our region."
Both men will spend much of March visiting Agfa's inkjet distribution channels to ensure an orderly hand-over. Then Taylor will assume his inkjet responsibilities leaving Lowery to enjoy his next phase of life ('it's not retirement', he points out).
Agfa Oceania
www.agfa.com.au
Top: Bruce Lowery Bottom: Steve Taylor
