INDUSTRY

SACRAMENTO, CA -- NEC Solutions (America), Inc., a leading provider of business solutions and services for the high-end commercial and professional markets in North America, appointed Kurt Keiser to chief information officer (CIO). Keiser's first initiative will be to spearhead the design of NEC Solutions America's IT infrastructure. Following the recent integration of three companies, this initiative will demand a carefully planned and timely executed integration. "It has taken a great deal of consideration to choose the most qualified person to lead these important initiatives," said Norio Tanoue, president and chief executive officer, NEC Solutions America. "Kurt's extensive background in IT service will be key to developing new systems that better serve our customers and ensure data security. We also believe this initiative will position the company for growth and serve as a proof-point of our intention to implement our Internet strategy." Keiser is currently planning the creation of a small, centralized support group that will develop new tools and business processes to foster collaboration and information sharing across the divisions. "Not only will we be able to provide better customer service, but we also expect to realize cost savings when we streamline these systems," said Kurt Keiser, chief information officer, NEC Solutions America. Additionally, Keiser will assist with the SAP upgrade project, which is currently underway, and scope a company-wide CRM system. Prior to this appointment, Keiser held the position of general manager of NEC Solutions America's Enterprise Business Solutions (EBS) Division where he managed the IT service teams for West Coast customers. To ensure a smooth transition and minimize customer impact, Keiser will continue to fulfill his responsibilities for EBS until a suitable replacement is identified. Keiser has also served as director of information technology of NEC Electronics, Inc. Before joining NEC, Kurt Keiser held CIO and other senior-level IT positions within Siemens. Visit www.necsolutions-am.com for more information.