Simons denied the rumours when PrintWeek spoke to him last month.
He said this week: "I have agreed to step down by mutual consent. Having done two years I felt the firm needed new management."
MCSi chairman and chief executive Toshi Saito has become managing director. He described Simons’ split with the firm as "amicable". There are no plans to replace Simons.
Sales director Mike Warnes has stepped up to executive director sales, while Jean-Thomas Olano, managing director of MCSi’s sister firm in France, MC2I, has been appointed executive director of operations.
In an official statement MCSi said its goal was to develop stronger synergies between other Mitsubishi graphic arts organisations in Europe. However, Saito said there were no plans to combine any of the European businesses.
After taking time off Simons plans to return to the industry as a consultant on image capture and colour management. "Not consumables – there’s more money to be made from knowledge," he said.
Simons took the helm last August following the departure of Keven Cooke (PrintWeek, 30 August 2001). At the time Simons, who had been sales and marketing director, said: "Mitsubishi is a sleeping giant, but we plan to dominate. We want to give customers another choice other than Agfa, Kodak Polychrome Graphics and Fuji. We’re going to be extremely proactive."
Story by Barney Cox
