Toshiba chief goes to Packard

Toshiba’s former head of marketing, Con Mallon, has joined computer giant Packard Bell as country manager for the UK and Ireland.

Mallon will have a general management role and will oversee marketing following the departure of marketing director Graham Paterson four months ago.

One of Mallon’s first duties will be to review the vacant marketing director position.

Mallon has been on gardening leave for the past three months since leaving Toshiba.

As marketing director, he was central to developing Toshiba’s laptop computer business. He also believes laptops will play an important role in the future of Packard Bell. He will report to Graham Hopper, managing director of NEC Computers – Packard Bell’s owner.

Mallon says he has no plans to review the company’s media buying, handled by Walker Media. Creative work is handled by Toshiba’s European office.

He explains: “It’s a very tough market and everybody is having to work harder. One of our strengths is that we only focus on the consumer market.”

Toshiba has announced it is an official sponsor of the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. The company will also act as the official IT partner at both tournaments, providing personal computers and PC servers.