April 1, 2025 – October 2025 for Europe – the new company resulting from the partnership between Panasonic Connect and Orix Corporation will be established. How is the company preparing for this step? What are the objectives, and how will the new organization operate? We discussed this with Jan Markus Jahn, Head of Panasonic’s Media Entertainment Business Unit.
Months after the announcement last August of the strategic partnership between Panasonic and Orix regarding the development of the Visual System Solutions business unit, which includes the projection business, professional displays, and collaboration solutions, we had the opportunity to interview Jan Markus Jahn, Head of Panasonic’s Media Entertainment Business Unit. We discussed the implications of this announcement and the path leading to the creation of the new Panasonic Visual Systems.
The new company will be 80% owned by Orix and 20% by Panasonic. As explained in the August press release, it aims to enhance expertise in visual technology while expanding the Panasonic brand’s offerings and exploring new markets. With Jan Markus, we discussed what lies ahead and how the company is preparing for this exciting new venture.
The question arises: what assets will the new company include?
JMJ – It will operate under the Panasonic brand, but it’s not just about the brand. In addition to the European commercial and representative offices, the two factories in China and Japan, the R&D office, product development, and the marketing team will also be transferred—around 1,500 colleagues will join the new organization. It’s important to emphasize that this is not just about the brand; the goal is to capitalize on and develop the know-how, collaborations, and valuable assets related to Panasonic’s visual market.
How did the contact with Orix come about?
JKJ – Orix is certainly a partner with significant investment capabilities, as well as knowledge and experience gained through many channels, including manufacturing companies and large corporations. They are the right partner to make the necessary investments to help the company grow. Last but not least, they are a Japanese company, like Panasonic, so culturally close to our history—it’s a great combination.
Your agreement concerns the projection business: what is the focus of the applications you foresee, and consequently, the products we will find in the catalog?
JMJ – Projectors are our core business, but as mentioned, the portfolio also includes other products and several software solutions. Our intention is to diversify and thus extend our reach into many application markets for visual technologies. At ISE 2025, for example, we will present a new lineup of all-in-one LED displays and various software solutions to support channel partners in integrating and planning their work more effectively, overseeing every step of the workflow, from design to support—one example is our already mentioned RMS (Remote Monitoring System, ed.).
Will the internal organization and distribution maintain the same model?
JMJ – The new organization will be more agile, and there will be changes. For example, my role will no longer be limited to Europe but will also include the MEA region. As I mentioned at the beginning, all our colleagues from the Research and Development department will be transferred to the new company. The same applies to technical and customer support. Both now and in the future, our customers can expect the same high standards of product and service quality they are used to from Panasonic.
What do you expect from this operation?
JMJ – I believe it will be a new and exciting journey for all of us. The partnership with Orix will help strengthen our position, with the aim of creating a new operational and innovative reality in the projection industry. We will also be more flexible. For example, our office will also handle the MEA region, and the ability to operate under a single umbrella will help all those developing business in that area. With the new organization, we will be a better partner for our customers.
We look forward to meeting old and new partners and customers at ISE, to build this important transition together.
