Toshiba combining two large subsidiaries in Irvine
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Computer and electronics giant Toshiba Corp. is combining two of its largest U.S. subsidiaries and sending them to Irvine, where most of its other national subsidiaries reside.
The conglomerate is turning its Toshiba America Consumer Products business in Wayne, N.J., into a division of Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., which is already based in Irvine.
On July 1, Consumer Products will begin integrating into Information Systems’ digital products division.
This way, the companies will have better access to overseas manufacturing facilities and Toshiba’s headquarters in Japan, the firm said Thursday. They will also share sales and marketing duties for a full line of personal computer and TV products.
Information Systems has focused on laptops, telephone systems, cameras and more while Consumer Products specialized in home entertainment products such as televisions and Blu-ray players.
The objective, the company said in a statement, is to be “better positioned to leverage the multiple convergences between PCs and TVs that we see emerging in the market.”
Information Systems President Mark Simons will continue to lead the company. Jeff Barney, general manager of the digital products division, will oversee the new Consumer Products operation.
Toshiba executives declined to be interviewed and would not say whether job cuts would be necessary when the move happens and what would happen to Consumer Products’ management. The company was also mum on whether it had plans to merge some of its other subsidiaries.
The merged entity will be joining several other subsidiaries, including Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc., Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc. and Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc., in Orange County.
Toshiba International Corp., another subsidiary, is based in Houston and manufactures power-generation equipment and industrial motors. One more, Toshiba America Resesarch Inc., is based in Piscataway, N.J., and creates wireless and Internet connection technology.
The companies are owned by Toshiba America, which is in turn owned by Toshiba Corp., which would not say whether it had plans to merge more subsidiaries.
-- Tiffany Hsu
