Join the imaging technology sector and explore the world! That statement might not be found in any marketing or recruitment materials produced by our industry’s manufacturing community, but that didn’t stop Michael Mathé, the chief of operations and sales enablement for Konica Minolta Business Solutions, from making it a reality.
While Mathé may not have stepped onto a plane minutes after securing his degree from the University of North Carolina, he certainly positioned himself for a variety of roles that would enable his passport to collect a bevy of stamps. He’s multilingual, with the ability to speak, Spanish, French and Portuguese (along with English), and over the course of a 30-year career, Mathé has plied his craft across the globe.
“When I was a field sales rep, I was promoted to a job in southern Europe as a sales trainer,” said Mathé, a 2023 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. “This is what made me stay in the industry. I was given the opportunity to share my work ethic and knowledge with colleagues in Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Belgium, The Netherlands, Portugal and Canada. This propelled me into international roles at Toshiba and then Konica Minolta, culminating in my current role.”
His earliest foray into the industry was in Florida, where he joined Lanier Worldwide as a down-the-street salesperson. The ability to speak multiple languages enabled him to secure a good territory and progress into higher positions in short order. Having studied marketing and finance at UNC, it helped him understand the leasing business and maximizing selling price.
Core Values
Mathé has relished the opportunity to work with people across a diverse set of cultures, and he’s thrived in developing both business and team members. He credits integrity and transparency with being key factors in the longevity and success he’s enjoyed.
“Good business is built on good relationships, so that has always been my approach to sales,” he said. “This has become apparent through our long-time relationship with Wayne Taylor Racing and now Andretti Autosport. This alliance has afforded us so many business opportunities we may not have otherwise encountered, facilitated through our on-site Konica Minolta Business Center at racing events and conversations in the paddock with high-level contacts in an exciting and relaxed environment.”
Mathé has benefited from adept guidance throughout his career. One of his early district managers proved integral in helping him develop selling and business skills, emphasizing persistence and the virtues of setting and attaining goals. During his time in the dealer network with IKON Office Solutions, the owner took Mathé under his wing, providing insight into how a dealership is run and the keys to its success.
Such guidance was critical in having perspective from the OEM side of the table. “This helped me service and respond to dealer partners’ needs much more effectively,” Mathé added.
Most industry observers would agree that 2022 represented a turning point in the fortunes of Konica Minolta, particularly in regards to its supply chain situation, which had largely stabilized by year’s end. Mathé believes it was truly a team effort that helped the organization reestablish the flow of business with dealer partners and customers alike.
DX Journey
As the calendar turned to 2023, Mathé and Co. continued to focus on growing their business, not just via products and services, but also delivering on a high level of customer service. “Our mission to educate and assist customers in their digital transformation journey is ongoing, along with our goal to expand our products into IoT devices to respond to evolving market needs.”
Elevating Mathé’s game to the next level entails keeping a finger on the pulse of Konica Minolta’s dealer partners and customers to better understand their business and current/future needs. “Taking that information and communicating it to our parent company provides them with solid insight into what our customers’ needs and pain points are as they look to build Konica Minolta’s future roadmap of products and services,” he added.
Away from the office, Mathé and his wife of 30 years, Pam, have two daughters, Marielle, 28, and Margaux, 23. An avid sportsman, Mathé enjoys racing sports cars, competing in triathlons and scuba diving, in addition to boating. He’s greatly involved in charitable organizations in conjunction with Konica Minolta, and in his own time he supports several institutions, including one that works to preserve and restore the coral reefs in South Florida and the Florida Keys. He also works closely with an organization that provides support and services to individuals with dementia.
