Sanyo director quits after management clash

Sanyo sales and marketing director Peter Eldon has resigned from the consumer electronics company after clashing with management over the company’s strategic direction.

Eldon and Sanyo logistics director Michael Joyce resigned in January following meetings with the company’s Japanese management over its future direction.

It is understood that replacements have yet to be appointed.

The pair’s decision to leave has been described as “amicable” but Eldon says the company needed to make tough decisions, over issues such as pricing. He added that he was not convinced that these were being taken “wholeheartedly enough”.

He says: “Consumer electronics is a tough business and you need to keep that in mind when taking business decisions. It needs strong leadership.”

The news comes as the company’s Japanese headquarters overhauls its management. An executive director Satoshi Iue, son of the company’s founder, has stepped down allowing key shareholders to gain control of the board.

The changes come as the company restructures its operations. It is ceasing production of DVD players and VCRs and it is focusing on niche areas such as rechargeable batteries, which are more profitable.

The UK subsidiary is expected to make a $1.7m (&£950,000) loss for 2005.