About Pivotal Resources
Pivotal Resources Limited was founded by Mike Willis in late 1995 to offer a wide range of services to the digital printing industry - well beyond consulting. The name comes from our services being "Pivotal" to future business decisions of our clients when we provide "Resources". We effectively operate a virtual company - with associates and partners around the world who work with us on projects.
Mike Willis
Mike Willis is the founder and Managing Director of Pivotal Resources, an international marketing and technical consultancy specialising in electronic printing and the graphic arts. He has worked in these industries for the past 20 years, accumulating considerable experience in a wide range of imaging technologies. Recognised as an industry expert, he regularly speaks and gives tutorials at printing conferences in Europe and North America. In addition he is the publisher of Directions, a service which monitors patents, research papers and significant product launches in the electronic printer market.
In May 1990 Mike was a founder member of Xaar, a company set up to exploit high resolution piezo ink jet technology. Later, while responsible for business development, he promoted the technology, forging links with printer companies world-wide resulting in Xaar's first licensee, a major Japanese business equipment manufacturer.
Mike began his career at Gestetner Limited, working on a variety of photocopier projects, and was responsible for the development of image processes. He graduated from the Polytechnic of Central London in 1976 with Honours in Photographic Sciences.
Tom Ashley
Tom Ashley is Director, Pivotal Resources USA, which he founded in late 2002. Tom has worked in electronic printing and imaging for more than 35 years, both in research and development and in marketing. He is widely known as an industry expert, and has spoken at more than 100 industry conferences.
Prior to merging with Pivotal Resources, Tom was the principal of BIBLIO-tec, a marketing and technical consultancy specialising in electronic printing and electronic display technology. From 1984 to 2001, Tom worked in market research and consulting for Dataquest, BIS Strategic Decisions, and CAP Ventures, all consulting firms specialising in digital printing and imaging. There, he directed groups researching the office peripherals, large format printing, industrial printing, and hard copy supplies markets. Prior to this he was Manager of Technology at Control Data Corporation heading up its laser and ink jet printer programmes. Mr Ashley began his career with IBM, where he managed groups developing photoreceptors, inks, and toners for IBM’s first copier, laser printer, ink jet printer and thermal transfer printer.
Mr Ashley holds an AB degree in Mathematics and Chemistry from Transylvania University and an MS degree in Physical Organic Chemistry from Marshall University, with additional graduate work in management at the University of Kentucky.
Masahiro Satoh
Masahiro Satoh is the president of Techno Solution Inc., an international marketing and technical consultancy specialising in the semiconductor industry and ink jet related fields. He has worked in these industries for the past 30 years gaining a wide range of experience. Consulting assignment clients have included semiconductor testing companies, LCD material companies, and a venture company for MEMS development.
Techno Solution is the contact window of Pivotal’s patent magazine “Directions” in Japan and he keeps close relationships with the major Japanese ink jet printer manufacturers.
In 1973, Mr Satoh joined IBM Japan and worked on many kinds of electronics component developments and analysis including semiconductor chips and electronics packages used for leading-edge computers. After IBM Japan he joined Sumitomo Metal and worked on thin-film magnetic heads and electronics, and new business planning and development that included advanced packages, semiconductor and LCD equipment (dry etching, wet cleaning, etc.)
In 1998 he joined Kansai Research Institute as Principal Consultant and was engaged in ink jet patent analysis and business development for overseas companies.
He established Techno Solution Inc. to start consultancy work in 2001. Mr Satoh holds an MS. in Physics from Waseda University.