Whitman outlines HP management reshuffle ahead of split
Whitman writes of major management changes for the firm in a memo sent to HP staff
HP's boss Meg Whitman has outlined her plans to restructure the firm's management ahead of its split into two separate firms, Bloomberg reported on Friday.
The split will divide the Silicon Valley giant into a PC and printer company that will retain the HP Inc moniker, and an enterprise hardware and services firm to be known as Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and is expected to be completed by next October.
Whitman told staff in an email: "We committed to a thoughtful and transparent separation management process that would minimise disruption to customers, partners, and employees. To deliver on this commitment, I am once again asking some of our best leaders to step up to help HP succeed."
To lead the split, Whitman has asked Bill Veghte, executive vice president of the Enterprise Group, to work with Mike Nefkens and Robert Youngjohns to "hone and advance our enterprise strategy and catalyse our separation efforts for Hewlett-Packard Enterprise".
"While I will be closely involved in the key decisions that will shape the future of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, this team effort led by Bill will allow me to have the flexibility I need to run the current business through next year and assist Dion Weisler with the creation of HP Inc," Whitman wrote.
Chris Hsu, senior vice president of operational performance, will manage the overall separation process and workstreams for Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, according to the memo.
"A significant part of separating HP into two new publicly traded companies is disentangling the existing corporate structure and reconstituting support for two new companies. This includes finance, tax, contracts, and legal entity separation efforts," Whitman wrote.
Following the split, Whitman is set to become president and chief executive of HP Enterprise and non-executive chairwoman of HP Inc.
Whitman also revealed in the memo she has asked Jim Murrin, vice president and chief operating officer of the Enterprise Group to serve as corporate separation management office leader and Antonio Neri, senior vice president and general manager of HP Servers and Networking, to become the leader of Enterprise Group.
Enrique Lores, senior vice president of business personal systems, will be the leader of the Separate Management Office and the Consumer and Business Personal Systems groups will be run by Ron Coughlin, senior vice president of Personal Systems.