Fuji Xerox staff departing

The country’s biggest digital print engine supplier Fuji Xerox Australia (FXA) is experiencing a high turnover of staff, with multiple key executives leaving the company within a short time period.
 
At the same time the company is investigating its New Zealand branch over accounting practices stretching back over the 13 years when Neil Whittacker was its CEO.
 
According to records filed with corporate regulator ASIC two of Fuji Xerox Australia’s officeholders, finance controller Rick Schojer and company secretary Lincoln Glendining, have recently ceased their roles.
 
In addition executive general manager of global services, Anthony Cogswell has left after more than two decades with the company, while chief people officer Beth Winchester has also resigned.
 
Well known print identities who have gone include former national sales manager Mick Gillis, while Mark Brown, who was product marketing manager, is now working for Konica Minolta, as is long time staffer Sue Threlfo who was working as a sales manager for Fuji Xerox, and so is Victorian staffer Anthony Jackson. Aline Schneider, industry marketing manager has also left.
 
FXA was rocked a year ago by the sudden departure of its CEO Neil Whittaker, its CFO Devlin Bell, and its top salesman Dean Murray, following an unannounced audit by the regional head office.
 
The recent departures may be linked to the enforced change in CEO, when Sunil Gupta took over from Whittaker. However Fuji Xerox is also under sales pressure, as market leader for many years it is facing intense competition from Ricoh, Konica Minolta and Canon.
 
Whittaker ran the NZ division of Fuji Xerox for 12 years prior to his 13-month stint as Australian CEO, ending in May 2016.
 
While the Australian offices are experiencing staff upheaval, the New Zealand branch is having its accounting practices for the Whittaker period investigated.
 
Fujifilm Holdings – Fuji Xerox owner – says it has hired an independent investigation committee to ‘review the appropriateness of accounting practices related to certain sales leasing transactions occurring in or prior to fiscal year 2015 involving Fuji Xerox New Zealand’ according to a statement released by the company.
 
This is the period in which Whittaker was in charge.
 
As a result of the investigation, Fujifilm says it has decided to postpone the release of its financial results scheduled for April 27, with the new release date yet to be announced.
 
NZ politician Winston Peters, leader of the New Zealand First party has called for a government inquiry into Fuji Xerox NZ following the company announcing its independent investigation committee.
 
Peters has highlighted irregularities with multiple government contracts awarded to Fuji Xerox NZ. He says, “At stake is something very serious because our inquiries reveal serious concerns with Fuji Xerox.
 
“It now seems that the parent company in Japan suspects the same thing because we all know what ‘accounting irregularities’ is code for.
 
“Take the Northland Schools Cluster for example. It has transpired that since signing up, there is a monthly standing charge per machine, schools were signed up to print volumes far in excess of what they previously used, and the contract term is an irregular 84-months.
 
“Experts say equipment like this should be replaced at 36-months as opposed to what will be old machines well past any depreciation point.”
 

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