Fujitsu 'stalwart' Roche crowned UK product king

Former public sector sales director Tom Roche handed reins of Technology Product Group

Education, healthcare and security will be three key focus areas for new Fujitsu UK product boss Tom Roche as he takes the reins from predecessor Michael Keegan.

Roche (pictured), a 15-year veteran of the firm, has been appointed executive director of Fujitsu's Technology Product Group following Keegan's promotion to head up the wider UK and Ireland business.

The role sees Roche charged with growing Fujitsu's product sales, including servers and storage, tablets, notebooks and desktop PCs and workstations, as well as security products and services.

Fujitsu claims it saw "huge" channel sales growth on Keegan's watch, adding that Roche will begin a new phase of channel development with a specific focus on education and healthcare.

Growing its security business, in tandem with its partners, is another priority for Roche.

"With high-profile attacks reported continually in the media, it becomes clearer each day that security threatens businesses of all types and sizes," he said. "As a result we're seeing it creep further up the boardroom agenda – and need to be in the position where we can help protect end users from the risks associated with it."

Like Keegan, who took the tiller in 2010, Roche takes on the role with a strong public sector pedigree, having previously been sales director of Fujitsu's public sector division.

"As a natural leader with strong experience across Fujitsu's business, Tom has both the personality and experience to drive Fujitsu's products business forwards", Keegan said.

"As a Fujitsu stalwart who knows our business inside and out, he is perfectly placed to take this part of the business to the next level."