Konica Minolta Inc. has announced that Mr. Hiroyasu Endo has been promoted to President of IJ Component Business Unit from 1st April 2019.
Mr. Endo will take over the position of Mr. Katsuaki Komatsu who became an advisor on 1st April 2019.
Mr. Endo joined Konica Corporation after graduating university in 1984. He took several roles in the company mainly as Overseas Sales of Photographic Films in China, South East Asia and Middle East.
After the withdraw of the Photographic Film and the Camera business of Konica Minolta, he joined the Inkjet Business Unit in 2007 and took the leadership position in Sales and Business Development, and grew the Inkjet Print Head business from a small division to a large division with more than 200 employees.
Mr. Endo also lead the successful asset purchase of the inkjet business of Panasonic Precision Device Ltd. which has expanded the possibility of Konica Minolta’s thin film PZT product strategy.
Mr. Endo is widely known and respected by KM’s printhead OEM customers who have reacted very positively to this news, recognising it as a good move for Endo san and for Konica Minolta’s inkjet ambitions.
Mr. Endo’s premiership comes at an exciting time. KM are launching a number of new print head products over the next 12 months that will even further reinforce KM as the go to supplier of high performance compact industrial inkjet printheads.
These new products have come about during the presidency of Mr. Komatsu, previously head of research and development, who was perfectly placed to oversee the innovation. Similarly, Mr Endo’s sales background is perfect to bring these products to market. IIJ, KM’s authorised sales and technical support partner outside of Asia, looks forward positively to Mr. Endo’s presidency, IIJ’s MD, John Corrall, said “we welcome the transition of the presidency from Komatsu san to Endo San. We have worked with both for many years not only as colleagues but also as friends. We wish Komatsu san well in his new role, and congratulate Endo san on his well deserved promotion.”
