Konica Minolta President & COO Named Executive of the Year

RAMSEY, NJ--(Marketwired - September 26, 2014) - Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announces that Rick Taylor, President and Chief Operating Officer for Konica Minolta, has been named "Executive of the Year" for the fourth consecutive year by THE CANNATA REPORT, a leading print and digital media resource for the office products and workflow solutions industry for 33 years and counting.

"What is there left to say about a man who continues to be selected, year after year, as 'Executive of the Year'?" says Frank G. Cannata, President and Editor-in-Chief/Publisher of THE CANNATA REPORT. "It is a credit to Rick Taylor and to Konica Minolta that has given him the tools to penetrate the North American market in such a dramatic fashion. It is not uncommon for their competitors to acknowledge the outstanding job that Taylor has done in shepherding his company to new heights, each and every year he has been at the helm. We offer our sincerest congratulations for a job well done."

This is the eighth year that Taylor has received this award, which is given based on responses by more than 275 dealers to THE CANNATA REPORT's Annual Dealer Survey, now in its 29th year.

"To be named 'Executive of the Year' is such an honor," says Taylor. "But, to receive this award for four consecutive years is humbling. It is affirmation of Konica Minolta's commitment to our dealer partners and to the company's strategic vision. This honor also goes to the incredible team here at Konica Minolta, which continues to strive for superior dealer support and service."

The awards were presented at THE CANNATA REPORT's 29th Annual Awards and Charities Dinner on Thursday, September 18 at Meadow Wood Manor, Randolph, N.J. Imaging and document solutions industry dealers and manufacturers and prominent corporate executives were the presenters at the awards ceremony, which is attended by all major copier/printer manufacturers. MWA Intelligence and Graphtec Digital Solutions, Inc. were first official sponsors of the highly anticipated annual event.

This year's dinner raised $188,000 to date for new beneficiary St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. The guest list of 181 industry leaders pledged $89,000. The school, which matched that amount, already provides $3.5 million in aid annually. Since 1997, THE CANNATA REPORT's Annual Awards and Charities Dinner has raised almost $1.4 million for various charities.

Prior to joining Konica Minolta in 2008, Taylor served as President and CEO of Toshiba America Business Solutions, where he was also named "Executive of the Year" in 2001, 2003, and 2006.

About THE CANNATA REPORT

Since its launch in 1982, THE CANNATA REPORT quickly became a leading domestic and international management resource for the Business Technology Industry. We have subscribers in nine countries and have enjoyed a reputation for providing industry-renown editorial, analyses, and opinion regarding this business for over 30 years. Our primary focus and audience are independent dealers, manufacturers and service and solution providers across the industry. As this channel continues to transition to a services orientation, we remain at the forefront. THE CANNATA REPORT and it complementary media brands, TheCannataReport.com and Live Wire blog, are owned and operated by parent company Marketing Research Consultants LLC (MRC). Since its inception 35 years ago, MRC has provided consulting services for every major business technology hardware manufacturer in the world. Its current media portfolio also extends across social media via THE CANNATA REPORT's Facebook page, Twitter page, LinkedIn page and YouTube channel.

Karen Harris
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.
1 201-818-3231
[e-mail]