Toshiba invests in Kenyan market, appoints Country Manager

Japanese company positions Kenyan operations for accelerated growth

Toshiba, a world leader and innovator in pioneering business computing solutions and digital consumer products, has reinforced its commitment to the Kenyan market with the appointment of Erick Njuguna as Country Manager to lead its local operations.

Njuguna’s primary mission will be to accelerate the Japanese notebook manufacturer’s sales growth and market share in Kenya in support of the country’s growing status as a hub of African ICT innovation and leadership.

His responsibilities will include driving and managing relationships with key corporate clients, distributors and resellers; as well as overseeing sales and marketing for the Toshiba brand and its range of products in Kenya.

“Toshiba's release of the first laptop in 1985 made computing truly personal and today we are distributing a range of high quality, durable notebooks that support the growth of information technology in the Kenyan workplace and home,” Njuguna says.

“Our products have always been well-received in Kenya and I aim to build on this perception by making Toshiba the preferred brand of choice for technology savvy Kenyans.”

Headquartered in Nairobi, Njuguna will also support Toshiba’s business across the rest of the East African region, particularly in its main markets of Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Prior to joining Toshiba, Njuguna held many key leadership positions and most recently was at Madison Insurance as a sales manager for nationwide branches and previously at Airtel.

Njuguna says he will be paying particular attention and focus on building and nurturing relationships with the brand’s distributors and resellers in the local market.

“Globally, Toshiba has a very effective incentive and rewards programme that provides business insights and technical support to its channel customers,” he says. “We will be customising this to suit local market conditions in the coming months, and we’re looking forward to engaging more closely with these ambassadors for our brands within the structures of the programme.”

In addition Njuguna commented on how grey imports present one of the biggest challenges to the technology market in Kenya for Toshiba.

“Toshiba notebooks are premium products that are valued for their high quality, durability and international reputation for excellence. Consumers may be tempted to save a few shillings by buying a grey import – a product that has not been imported into the country through official channels - but if they do so they are not supported by Toshiba’s warranty, and consumers have no recourse should something go wrong with the device,” he says.

“Official Toshiba products are clearly marked in-store so that customers can rest assured that they will be covered by Toshiba’s comprehensive warranty and after sales service,” he adds. “I will be working closely with distributors and resellers to educate corporate customers and consumers about the wisdom of avoiding grey products and the importance of purchasing official products through the correct channels.”

Njuguna noted that the Kenyan government, through its Vision 2030 strategy, had recognised ICT as a foundation for a knowledge economy and has initiated major steps to bridge the digital divide, and promote the use of ICT throughout the country.

“We share this vision at Toshiba and we look forward to supporting this strategy by ensuring the availability of accessible, efficient, reliable and affordable ICT products and services,” says Njuguna.

“The time is right for Toshiba to invest in local resources dedicated to achieving our goal of placing a Toshiba notebook on every desk in Kenya. I have joined the company to lead this commitment, and I am thrilled to be representing such a highly respected, superior quality, internationally recognised brand,” Njuguna concluded.