Panasonic Alters U.S. Sales Operation

SECAUCUS, N.J.— Just days before the opening of International CES in Las Vegas, Panasonic announced the consolidation of its consumer sales organization, merging nine units into one, which will be effective April 1.

Overseeing administration of sales will be senior VP Fred Towns, who operates Panasonic Specialty Sales Company, will also concurrently, head the Specialty Sales Company. The three other new sales companies and top executives are: Dave Bearden, current head of Panasonic Company Central, will become Panasonic Regional Sales Company president; Steve Gold, current head of Panasonic Company East, will become president of the Panasonic National Sales Company; and Mike Troetti, who heads Panasonic Home & Consumer Products, will become president of Panasonic Enterprise Sales Company.

In addition, the company announced that Mike Aguilar, until now president of Panasonic Company National division, will take on the position of senior VP responsible for the Telecommunications, Entertainment, Display, Optical and Digital Technology Merchandising Groups. Dick Muchanic will also take on responsibility for personal care and healthcare products as part of his role as general manager of Home Appliance, Personal and Health Care merchandising.

Andy Takani, president of Panasonic Consumer Electronics, commented, "The first and most obvious change for our retailer customers is that we are transforming our current nine sales companies into a single organization made up of four sales companies. I believe that our retail customers will find this a welcome change."

He added, "The consolidation of sales operations is one step in a larger initiative to optimize business processes and effectiveness and improve corporate performance. The transformation now under way will make Panasonic more responsive to the needs of our customers."