Panasonic Consolidates Operations, Names New President

Panasonic Corp. said that it has consolidated its computer solutions, display and media systems companies into one organization called Panasonic Solutions Co., and named Rance Poehler to head new the operation.

The move presents customers with Panasonic’s business-to-business product portfolio under a single banner, modernizing and simplifying the manner in which the vendor interacts with clients and channel partners.

Accordingly, Poehler said that the company plans to alter its sales strategy to rely heavily on two-tier sales to channel partners, honing in on vertical markets such as government, health care and education, in addition to pursuing enterprise-class customers.

Distributors Ingram Micro Inc., Synnex Corp. and Tech Data Corp. already sell Panasonic’s line of Toughbook ruggedized mobile computers to channel partners.

Kevin Prewett, Ingram Micro vice president, vendor management, praised the change in Panasonic’s U.S. operations.

“This move definitely simplifies the business model overall and makes it easier for partners to engage,” he said.

Prewett said that Ingram Micro has aligned its Panasonic support team to mirror the vendor’s new structure, “making it easier for channel partners to engage with both Panasonic and Ingram Micro.”

Panasonic Solutions also will sell projectors, professional displays, and HD video acquisition and production solutions through distributors, officials said. Previously, resellers had to source individual product lines from Panasonic’s various operating companies.

“We will utilize the technology and innovation from our multiple engineering and research centers to create new solutions, built with the input of our customers and ecosystem of channel partners, to substantially grow our business,” Poehler said.

He said that Panasonic currently spends upwards of $3 billion on research and development annually. The company expects that its technology investments combined with an enhanced channel partner network will boost revenue.

Move designed to improve relationships with customers

Panasonic chairman and chief executive Joseph Taylor said that the consolidation will “make Panasonic an easier company with which to do business and enhance our ability to deliver superior products, services and support to commercial and government customers.”

Roger Kay, founder and president of Endpoint Technology Associates Inc., a Wayland, MA-based market intelligence firm, said that the melding of Panasonic’s technology offerings under one organization was a good move.

“Offering Panasonic’s array of mobile computing, video and display technologies under one banner makes sense,” Kay said.

“Many of Panasonic’s government and commercial customers rely on the company’s full suite of technologies to streamline operations, gather and analyze business intelligence, protect and train employees, and improve customer experience.”