Laurent Abadie Appointed Chairman and CEO of Panasonic Europe

Panasonic Europe Limited has announced the appointment of Laurent Abadie as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Laurent Abadie will be the first non-Japanese director to take up this role in the group’s history.

After joining Panasonic France in 2004, Laurent Abadie was appointed Executive Officer on the Board of Directors of the Panasonic Corporation in Japan in 2008. He will continue to hold this position whilst undertaking his new duties at the head of the Group’s European division.

Under the guidance of Laurent Abadie, Panasonic has led the French digital camera market since the first quarter of 2007 with its Lumix range*. Panasonic has also climbed from 5th to 2nd place in the French plasma screen market under his leadership.

“I am extremely proud of this appointment and of the trust that the Group’s board members have placed in me,” says Laurent Abadie. “My admission to the Board of Directors in 2008 was already testament to the importance of the French market to Panasonic. My appointment as Director of Panasonic Europe (Panasonic’s primary region by size outside Japan) is proof of the willingness to accelerate development in Europe and to open up this position to a non-Japanese director for the first time.”

Laurent Abadie joined Panasonic France as Managing Director In 2004. The following year he was appointed President of the French division and, in 2008, he was elected Executive Officer on the board of directors of the Panasonic Corporation in Japan.

*(Source GfK)

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 90.7 billion US dollars for the year ended 31 March, 2008. The company’s shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE: PC) stock exchanges.

Panasonic has an impressive track record of innovation in the consumer electronics market, in particular for the development of high definition standards such as Blu-ray technology, and for its consumer cameras: the recently-launched Lumix GH1 is the first interchangeable lens system camera to offer a full 1080p HD video function.

For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company’s website at www.panasonic.net

Contacts

Andrea Rinnerberger
Tel: +49-611-235-361
andrea.rinnerberger {at} eu.panasonic(.)com