By James Wells

SYDNEY: After over 10 years with Sony Australia, Mark Lawson has left his role as channel manager for the Narta group and has started working today with Hitachi Australia responsible for the company’s most important product category – plasma and LCD.

Lawson becomes the second Sony Australia Narta channel manager to join Hitachi Australia within a year after Steve Andrew joined the business as New South Wales sales manager. Sony Australia has lost three Narta channel managers in three years with the Narta channel manager prior to Steve Andrew, John De Bellis, joining Sydney-based Narta retailer Bing Lee in late 2004.

At Hitachi Australia, Lawson has been appointed to the role of product specialist – visual – responsible for LCD and plasma reporting to general manager – sales and marketing, Geoff Hannaford.

“Mark brings a wealth of experience from marketing and sales which in an organisation like Hitachi with a smaller team it is critical to have that well-rounded experience.

“Mark will be responsible for the number one category for our business – plasma and LCD,” Hannaford said.

“Mark joined Sony in 1994 and was group product manager – audio and more recently channel manager predominantly for the Narta group. He has a good technical understanding as well as strong sales and marketing background which makes him perfect for a company like us.

Hitachi Australia has also appointed Celine Herit as marketing communications coordinator. Herit joins the business from Hitachi Data Systems which is also based in Sydney.

“Celine has strong sales, marketing and events experience in Australia over the last 12 months as well as previous roles in France. She is a well-rounded employee that is ideal for this position,” Hannaford said.

“These two appointments are representatives of the type talent Hitachi is looking to attract to its dynamic team.”