By James Wells
SYDNEY: After 40 years in the Australian market, NEC Australia announced today it will close its last global subsidiary offering retail electronics products by leaving the whitegoods, consumer appliances, home entertainment categories, including television.
“NEC Australia today announced a strategic restructure of its local business to focus solely on its core ICT/network communication solutions and services with a greater emphasis on delivering service and consultancy to its business and government customers,” NEC managing director, Mr Wataru Takeuchi, said in a statement this afternoon.
NEC Australia commenced operations in 1969 with five employees. NEC Australia was the last global subsidiary to be offering products in the retail space and the decision to close its consumer electronics division falls in line with the company’s global focus on business products.
“The move comes in response to rapidly changing market conditions in retail, the weakening Australian Dollar, and is in line with a focus of its resources and energies on the business and government markets,” Mr Takeuchi said.
NEC will continue to sell commercial displays, including digital signage and business projectors which are unaffected by the restructure. NEC will continue to sell this range to the business market via its Display Solutions Division.
NEC Australia confirmed it will continue to offer its ongoing support to existing customers by honouring its warranty and extended support agreements.