Brother hires Forsyth from HP to lead printer sales

Brother UK has restructured its sales leadership team as it continues to expand its sales to resellers and solutions to medium and large businesses.

The company has hired print industry veteran Andy Forsyth from HP, where he was sales and marketing director for the company's UK and Ireland laser printing business.

He joins Brother in a newly created role with responsibility for developing and supporting the company's network of indirect channels.

With more than 20 years' experience in driving growth in key print and technology categories, Forsyth will have sales responsibility for Brother's existing product portfolio, including its multifunction A3 inkjets, electronic labellers and colour laser machines.

Brother's general manager, Terry Caulfield, will be spearheading new technology and solution-based launches, plus expansion into the value-added reseller marketplace.

The arrival of Forsyth signals Brother's intention to expand in the mid-sector of the market. In September the company filed its annual report and accounts for the year ended March 31st 2011. Brother reported a 4.7% increase in total printer sales to 103.7m (2010: 99.1m), in a 12 month period that saw the printer industry experience declining sales volumes following the recession.

Phil Jones, sales and marketing director for Brother UK, said: "We have continued to deliver positive underlying sales growth by reading the way the industry is moving and meeting the challenges this brings.

"In a difficult market, Brother has continued to invest in a long-term growth plan and higher value customers. Andy will be a great asset to the Brother UK senior management team; he is well respected in the print and technology industry and brings a huge amount of experience to our organisation. His appointment is an indication of our ambition to continue the growth of our UK business."

Andy Forsyth said: "Brother has an impressive long-term commitment to supporting resellers and helping them to grow their businesses. In my new role, I will help to further develop the company's partnership with the channel to identify gaps in the market for products and services which not only solve end-users' challenges, but also help our resellers to establish lifetime value from their customers."