The hiring of an industry outsider defines Kyocera’s strategy for future success.
After discussing the need to recruit talent from outside the industry during Kyocera Document Solutions America’s annual dealer meeting in April, CEO Oscar Sanchez is leading by example.
Since taking over as CEO of Kyocera Document Solutions America less than a year ago, Sanchez has been reshaping the document imaging company into a consultative, solutions-focused, data-driven organization, a process that starts with cultivating a different kind of culture and mindset.
The hiring of new Vice President of Human Resources Natalie Cumberbatch, whose 15-year career has included exactly zero stops within the document imaging industry, is representative of Sanchez’s strategy.
“We’re innovating, from the inside-out. Natalie understands how to recruit and retain innovators,” commented Sanchez in a Kyocera press release.
Innovation has characterized Cumberbatch’s professional accomplishments, both at a talent management and development firm and at a rapidly growing non-profit. Highlights have included organizational re-design, operational expansion, and comprehensive training for emerging leaders ““ all of which resonate with Kyocera’s long-held (but newly articulated) values of continuous learning and constant improvement.
National recognition has followed, with Cumberbatch’s most recent company earning “Great Place to Work” endorsements in each of the last three years, a goal she now has for Kyocera.
“HR is a strategic role, maybe the most important strategic role,” said Cumberbatch. “Innovation, growth, change ““ it all starts with the people you have and the culture you create.”
Scott’s Upshot
The imaging industry is at a crossroads and it’s time to think more deeply about recruiting younger people into this industry. A smart way to do that is to bring in talent from outside the industry with open minds and new ideas who can identify the next generation of talent who can move these companies forward. We’re seeing this firsthand at Kyocera with this latest announcement and we’ve seen a similar strategy on the HR side employed at Konica Minolta. Kudos to Oscar Sanchez for having the foresight to not only talk about the need to do something different, but to actually do it.
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