russo/kodak

Eastman Kodak Co.'s New President & COO Patricia Russo to Link Kodak Effort to $225 Billion Information Industry

April 12, 2001--Putting aside the phrase "Kodak Moment," Wednesday's news about Patricia F. Russo, formerly a Lucent Technologies executive, mobilizes the launch of the "Kodak Triumph."
    "This is monumental news," asserted Mitchell Goldstone, president of Irvine-based 30 Minute Photos Etc. "It is even garnering loud applause from Eastman Kodak's customers and employees."
    Goldstone reflected on the news accounts of Kodak's appointment of a new president and COO. He talked with many other photo industry leaders that share his passion for Kodak and the business of pictures.
    "Just as Carley Fiorina, HP's chairman and CEO, rejuvenated the computer industry with excitement and integrated diversity issues, the news that Kodak has found someone with an equally engaging personality is news. The culture of Kodak has changed. It is exciting not just that a multi-national company selected a woman, but for whom it chose.
    "Her performance, not her gender, was ultimately the reason for her appointment. Pat has made Fortune's list of most powerful women several times and is also an advocate for diversity issues," said Goldstone.
    "As a well-known photo industry expert, I see Pat as the catalyst to strengthen Kodak's management team as it expands from just imaging to integrate with the much larger business of information. Running a $25 billion business with nearly 70,000 employees empowers her as catalyst to link Kodak with its future.
    "Recent questions about whether Kodak could achieve its marketing efforts of 'InfoImaging' and engage the much larger $200 billion marketplace has been answered today. Pat also strengthens the senior management team with yet another youthful leader that understands pictures are the new international language," said Goldstone.
     Pictures no longer just mean photographs for photo albums. Today, technology enables consumers to order photographic quality prints from their digital cameras, share snapshots over the Internet and a host of other entirely new revenue centers.
    "This bodes well for Kodak and for the photo industry. Pat's engaging technology and leadership background will even help explain what the heck is meant by Kodak's 'InfoImaging' campaign," quipped Goldstone, regarding the funny name that is integrating pictures with the much larger $225 billion information business.

Reprint in part from 30 Minute Photos