Continuum has added 40 years of experience in the information and imaging industries, formerly known as the copier and office equipment industry, to its board of advisors.
The Boston-based remote monitoring and management (RMM) software company today announced Ed McLaughlin, the former president of Sharp Imaging & Information Company of America, has joined its board of advisors.
Continuum said McLaughlin will advise the company as it continues to focus on helping office equipment (OE) dealers make the transition to managed IT services.
“Ed is universally liked and respected in the office equipment industry and we are delighted to have him consult with us on various industry issues, opportunities and strategic direction,” Continuum CEO Michael George said in a prepared statement. “His knowledge and experience in this industry are unmatched and have already proven invaluable as we continue to focus on making our office equipment dealers the most successful and profitable in managed IT services.”
What does McLaughlin offer Continuum’s board of advisors?
McLaughlin began his career in the OE industry in 1971 as a sales representative for 3M Company (MMM) and has leadership experience with Sharp, Savin/Ricoh (RICO) and Canon USA (CAJ).
He serves currently as CEO of Valderus, a Philadelphia-based document imaging company, and said he expects to help bridge the gap between Continuum and OE dealers.
“Continuum has the right tools, technology and training that office equipment dealers need to greatly profit from managed IT services and effectively support customers’ technology needs. Their transformational business model brings the required technical labor element to the equation — a necessary ingredient that OE dealers have struggled with until now with Continuum,” McLaughlin said. “I look forward to advising Continuum in order to help OE dealers best transition to a complete and comprehensive managed IT services model and solidify their future in this increasingly important market opportunity.”
The OE space is a key market for Continuum, and a company spokesperson said offering managed IT services has provided a boost for many OE dealers.
“That industry is always looking for ways to provide additional services to their customer base,” a Continuum spokesperson told MSPmentor.
A year ago, Continuum added a telecom executive to its board of directors, signaling plans to focus on that market, too.
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