Toshiba

Mark Whittard
General Manager Toshiba (Australia) Information Systems Division

In his current role as General Manager of Toshiba’s Information Systems Division (ISD), Mark is responsible for all aspects of operations for Australia and New Zealand. The division has turnover approaching $500 million per annum and is the recognised leader in mobile computing.

In April 2007, Mark was instrumental in extending the Toshiba ISD business to include Toshiba’s audio visual (AV) products, which includes the impressive collection of high definition LCD televisions and DVD players – products that will ensure Toshiba will be a key player in the Australian computing and home entertainment market.

Since joining Toshiba in 1998, Mark’s roles have expanded to include National Marketing Manager, responsible for marketing to industry and channel, product strategies and communications. Mark also managed the retail business unit which now accounts for 65 per cent of total revenues. Throughout his tenureship, Mark’s charter has always been to be responsive to the needs of customers and channel partners.

Mark’s has more than 20 years’ experience in the information technology industry. Prior to joining Toshiba, he worked with Control Data, Digital Equipment Corporation and Compaq, where he held senior roles including Director of Product Marketing, PC & Workstation Marketing Manager and numerous sales management and business development roles.

Mark’s key achievements at Digital and Control Data included: introducing key product marketing initiatives that were adopted globally; pioneering channel-based programs for commodity products, and over a four-year period facilitating the growth of Digital's Australian PC business from startup to a $250 million operation, which set a global record within Digital of the highest market share of any subsidiary.

Mark grew up in Sydney's Northern Beaches. His career began in structural engineering, where he was at the forefront of early computer aided design and manufacturing. He has studied at the Institute of Technology in Sydney, Harvard University and MIT. He also completed executive management courses at Mount Eliza and Macquarie University graduate management schools.

Francois Spina
AV Product Manager – DVD Toshiba (Australia) Information Systems Division

In his current role as AV Product Manager - DVD at Toshiba’s Information Systems Division, Francois is responsible for all DVD products including DVD players, portable DVD players and combination LCD TV / DVD players. He provides support and information to both clients and Toshiba sales and marketing teams.

Since joining Toshiba in 2002, Francois has expanded from his original position as Technical Specialist and ProCare Trainer. In that role, he provided support for Toshiba IT Product Managers and Pre-sales Teams. Francois is also responsible for product testing and development of new technologies, including attending a yearly technical training session in Japan.

Francois’ career includes almost thirteen years’ experience in the information technology industry. Prior to joining Toshiba, he worked at InFocus Installations and at Metropolitan Business Machines.

Francois grew up in Canberra, Australia. He studied IT Network Engineering at TAFE in Sydney and spent two years in Japan where he became fluent in Japanese.

Steve Rindfleisch
AV Sales Manager Toshiba (Australia) Information Systems Division

Steve Rindfleisch was appointed to AV Sales Manager at Toshiba Australia in May 2007. Based at Toshiba in Victoria, Steve’s responsibilities include managing sales of AV products, liaising with retail outlets and growing sales targets.

Bringing to Toshiba a wealth of knowledge, experience and insight, Steve was Group Sales Manager for Sony Australia (Consumer AV/IT), and more recently the General Manager of Sales and Marketing at Digitec. He has been working within the consumer electronics industry for ten years.

Justin White
Group Product Marketing Manager Toshiba (Australia) Information Systems Division

Justin White has been working in the PC industry since 1985. He has a passionate interest in electronics and computing technology which has assisted his career in computing since then.

In the early 1990s he also worked for Sydney-based Osborne computers, in retail and corporate sales roles, gaining a solid understanding of desktop computing and networking environments. Since 1993 he has worked with Toshiba in many different roles including corporate sales, where he created mobile solutions for individual customer requirements and then with Corporate Marketing where he put together solutions for entire industries to gain the most of their mobile computing experience. Since 2001 Justin has been Product Marketing Manager for Pocket PCs, Projectors and Storage products. Added to his portfolio, he managed Toshiba’s range of business notebooks.

Justin is responsible for providing feedback into the design of these products as well as ensuring their success in the Australian Market place! Receiving training and technical information from Tokyo Justin has a wealth of knowledge to draw upon for the mobile world and AV market places.

Currently, as a Product Marketing Manager, Justin manages the product marketing team and oversees both the product planning and marketing of Toshiba’s IT and AV range of products.

Mariana Thomas
National Marketing Communications Manager

MARIANA THOMAS is a marketing communications and media executive with over 15 years of experience in communications, integrated marketing and media. She held senior management roles in Australia and overseas for the past 12 years throughout the communications, media and marketing fields in a variety of industries including IT, telecommunications, Information Management, infrastructure, government as well as consultancy, where she helped many organisations design, implement and manage their communications and integrated marketing plans and strategies. She provided advice and support on a variety of corporate communications and marketing matters to support business strategies. A major focus in her work is to manage brands to competitive levels in highly commoditised and price sensitive markets.

With her background in media and journalism and Masters in Communications, Mariana understands strategic messaging along with brand positioning and masters effective tools to communicate with a variety of audiences while capitalising on brand equity, which warrants success even in a very price sensitive market.

Since 2007, Mariana heads the Marketing department at Toshiba which incorporates all facets of marketing and communications including advertising, sponsorships, PR, through-the-line marketing, online communications and environmental management for Toshiba’s Information Systems Divisions.

Matthew Tumminello
Product Marketing Manager Toshiba (Australia) Information Systems Division

Matthew Tumminello is one of Toshiba's Product Marketing Managers. His product portfolio covers Toshiba's range of notebooks for the business sector (B2B).

A Toshiba veteran for more than 14 years, Matthew was previously in the corporate sales team managing global and corporate accounts before joining the marketing team as Product Marketing Manager.

A father of three boys, Matthew is an athlete and has competed in the Triathlon Ironman event. He believes in the balance of work, personal life and family and in his spare time trains other people to achieve a healthier and fitter lifestyle.