Toshiba Names New Manager for Computer Systems Unit

Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. said Friday that it has named a new general manager for its computer systems division--a unit analysts said has been hurt recently by an oversupply of product.

Toshiba said that former division general manager Tom Scott resigned for personal reasons and has been succeeded by Van Andrews, formerly senior vice president of the computer division. Both men started at Toshiba in 1990.

Additionally, the company said that Jeffrey Friederichs, vice president of worldwide marketing for Toshiba’s personal computer division in Japan, has been given the added responsibility for marketing Toshiba’s portable and desktop computers in the United States. Friederichs is based in Irvine.

Former U.S. marketing chief Ron Smith was promoted to vice president of strategic and business planning and will report directly to Andrews.

Analysts said that Toshiba’s computer services division under Scott recently misjudged demand for laptop computers and ramped-up production when it shouldn’t have. As a result, the company has a huge backlog of computers.

However, Toshiba, the market leader in laptop sales, says that it doesn’t have an oversupply and isn’t worried about selling its backlog.

Toshiba America Information Systems has more than 3,600 employees--2,300 in Orange County--and about $4 billion in annual sales. It operates nine divisions making and marketing portable and desktop personal computers, disk drives, copiers, facsimile systems, voice mail systems, digital cameras and other products.