The new executives will help to drive sales towards the €2 billion ($2 billion) mark by 2020.
Dealer Support reported that as part of Epson’s drive for “growth and multi-million euro investment programme in Europe”, the company has appointed Ernest Quingles, formerly Managing Director for Epson France, Spain and Portugal, to the new role as director responsible for business sales across Europe, the Middle East and Russia (EMEAR).
The other Senior Executive appointment went to Darren Phelps, who will be responsible for Epson’s business imaging and print division in Europe. The OEM has invested €50 million ($53 million) in Europe, which they have focussed on “infrastructure, IT, marketing and workforce expansion”, and are aiming to deliver €2 billion ($2.1 billion) sales in 2020, which will have the effect of increasing the workforce in Europe by 10 percent.
Rob Clark, Senior Vice President of Epson Europe, said: “I am pleased to announce that Ernest Quingles will now lead the sales effort within Europe. Ernest is a strong sales leader who has been a successful member of Epson Europe’s senior management team for over two years where he has helped deliver impressive sales growth in France, Spain and Portugal.
“Darren Phelps has extensive experience developing new channels to market and has proved highly effective in his previous role as Epson’s European head of reseller sales. Darren is tasked with managing Epson’s Business Imaging and Print operations where he will work closely with Ernest to develop our go-to-market strategy and implement new channel programmes tailored to meet our customers’ needs across Europe.”
Clark also commented: “Business inkjet printing is the big growth opportunity for Epson in Europe. Companies making the switch from laser to inkjet printers realise they can achieve significant competitive advantages including energy savings of up to 96 percent, CO2 emission reductions of 92 percent and waste reductions of 95 percent.”
Businesses are making the change from laser to inkjet printing, and Epson wants to meet the demand which is said to be “massive”, with the company investing €400 million ($425 million) in new production facilities and intending to invest a further €185 million ($196 million) in its PrecisionCore inkjet technology in the next three years.
IDC reported that “business inkjet printing represents a €38 billion ($40 billion) market opportunity in Europe, and the overall business inkjet market will grow at a rate of 10.2 percent (CAGR) up to and including 2020”.