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BUSINESS

Canon New Zealand 20 years on

Friday 6 November 2009, 8:25AM

By Canon

1,644 views

Mike Johnston Lara Syddall and Susan Smith.JPG
Mike Johnston Lara Syddall and Susan Smith.JPG Credit: Canon
Mr Kenji Kobayashi and Alan Whetton
Mr Kenji Kobayashi and Alan Whetton Credit: Canon
Brian Farlow Bonnie Frankland and Jeff Thompson
Brian Farlow Bonnie Frankland and Jeff Thompson Credit: Canon
Phillip Albery Rochelle Mora and Ted Gibbons
Phillip Albery Rochelle Mora and Ted Gibbons Credit: Canon
Terri Wimsett and Tara Worley
Terri Wimsett and Tara Worley Credit: Canon

New Zealand 20 years onNew Zealand 20 years onNew Zealand 20 years on Canon is celebrating its 20 th anniversary after the company opened the doors of its firstNew Zealand office in 1989.

Including contracted services the company currently employs over 300 staff across thecountry, with the head office being an iconic building on Auckland’s North Shore.Mike Johnston, Country Manager, Canon New Zealand says that one of the most excitingaspects of the 20 years has been the incredible growth in the uptake by New Zealandersof Canon product and technology at both a consumer and business to business level.

“Our cameras have always been popular with Kiwis and that is evidenced by the fact thatwe are currently number one in digital compact and digital SLR. On the businesssolutions side of the company we have moved from simply supplying photocopiers andprinters to offering integrated business solutions that have helped many NZ companies,government & tertiary organisations become more efficient and productive.“Our philosophy is that of Kyosei which means ‘Living and working together for thecommon good’ and we are proud not only of our achievements as a business but also ourcommitment to the community.

This is reflected in our support for many national charitiesand sponsorships including the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation, the 2003 LionsTour and the Qantas Media Awards,” says Johnston.Mike says the company’s success in New Zealand has not just been based around thequality of its products and offering.

“Our success can also be attributed to the people who make it a reality and the Kiwiattitude to embrace new technology.“We have fantastic people working at Canon New Zealand and their talent andcommitment has been crucial to the on-going success of the company.”

Lee Fairbairn, now the Assistant General Manager – Services and Support at Canon NewZealand recalls the day exactly 20 years ago when he started working at Canon fixingtypewriters and calculators in the workshop at the age of 18.“Since then I have changed roles every five years or so, ranging from fixing copiers totraining technicians. Canon is a strong values based company and has enabled me tocarve a career with a company I am very proud to be associated with.” says Fairbairn.

Canon staff marked the occasion with a day at the races entertaining many who havebeen integral to the company. Staff had the opportunity to share stories of their ownexperiences and reflect on major achievements over the years with customers, suppliersand media. EndsEndsEndsEnds About CanonAbout CanonAbout CanonAbout CanonCanon New Zealand is a leading provider of advanced, simple-to-use imaging solutions forbusinesses and consumers.

Canon has ranked among the top-three US patent recipients for thepast 15 years, and had global revenues of around $US39 billion in 2007. Canon New Zealand alsooperates Canon Finance New Zealand, which offers one-stop shopping for customers wantingleasing or finance services. For more information, visit www.canon.co.nz