HP names channel execs for new PPS group

Leaders announced for merged printer PC division.

HP has named new channel leaders for its Printers and Personal Systems (PPS) division, which HP formed last month when it merged its PC and printer businesses.

Mike Parrottino, who has been leading US channel sales for HP's Personal Systems Group since last September, is now head of the PPS Americas channel organisation. He will now report to John Solomon, senior vice president and general manager of the PPS Americas business.

Parrottino, a 24-year HP veteran, "will be responsible for creating, developing and running PPS’s channel go-to-market efforts across the Americas region. This includes setting strategy and direction to ensure as an Americas Channel organisation we are meeting our business objectives," Solomon said in a letter sent to partners outlining the PPS leadership changes.

Scott Dunsire, previously vice president of Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) business and sales management in the Americas Solution Partners Organisation, is now leading US SMB channel sales. He will now report to Lynn Pendergrass, who last month was appointed to the newly created role of senior vice president and general manager of HP's PPS US business.

PPS chief Todd Bradley appointed Solomon and Pendergrass to their new roles in PPS an executive reshuffle last month.

Stephen DiFranco, senior vice president and general manager of PSG, does not have a role in the PPS division. Solomon said DiFranco "will continue to play a key leadership role for HP," and that the company will announce his new position "in the near future."

One of CEO Meg Whitman's priorities is to simplify HP's internal organisations and remove the "silos" between the different business units that, according to partners, make it difficult to work with the company.

HP also needs to cut costs, which is adding urgency to the proceedings. Combining the PC and printer business units was a first step down this road.

"This simplified organisational structure will allow us to leverage our strengths across these two complementary businesses, which will help make you more successful and better able to win against your competition," Solomon said in the letter.

"And, our new channel leadership structure will allow us to focus in key areas required to properly support our channel, making it easier for you to work with HP."

When HP unveiled PPS, it also created the new Enterprise Group, which consists of the Enterprise Servers, Storage and Networking (ESSN) division, HP's global accounts sales organisation, and HP Technology Services, and is led by former ESSN chief Dave Donatelli.

Starting May 1, Stephen DeWitt, who has held a variety of roles at HP and was most recently head of the WebOS business unit, will take on a new role as business marketing lead in the Enterprise Group, reporting to CMO Marty Homlish.

This article originally appeared at crn.com