Fuji Xerox boss out the door

The head of Fuji Xerox Australia Neil Whittaker has abruptly left the business, just a year after being appointed managing director.

Also gone is general manager production print Dean Murray – the company’s top salesman - with a number of other Fuji Xerox staff shown the door. The company is also believed to have halted upcoming transfers of staff from New Zealand to Australia.

No reason has been given for the sudden departure of Whittaker who arrived a year ago from New Zealand, nor Murray. ProPrint understands Fuji Xerox sales figures were holding up well, and it retains number one market share position in the Australia digital cut-sheet toner sector.

However his departure comes shortly after an unannounced audit - instigated by regional headquarters in Singapore - of the company’s performance.

An industry source tells ProPrint both the Australian and NZ businesses have been ‘under the microscope’ over several deals that had transpired under Whittaker’s watch.

It is widely known that Whittaker’s win-at-all-costs objective led to significant recalibrations in pricing on many occasions, that left competing suppliers furious as they questioned how those levels were sustainable.

According to an industry source, both Whittaker and Murray were asked to leave the building immediately on Monday and an internal communication was sent to employees informing them of his departure.

Masashi Honda, president of Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific operations will take over as managing director for the interim until a successor to Whittaker is appointed.

Whittaker is known throughout the industry as being forceful in his role, he had banned employees from associating with staff from rival suppliers, and enforced a tie-at-all-times dress code.

Whittacker invited plenty of industry comment by posing on a fur-covered throne on the front of a trade magazine. Murray was regarded as a sales superstar, with a Maserati to prove it.

The Fuji Xerox boss assumed the position last year after eleven years as NZ managing director, taking over from Nick Kugenthiran. He had been with Fuji Xerox for the past 37 years.