Bottazzi Out In HP Technology Services Exec Reshuffle

CRN

Bottazzi "has made a personal decision to pursue an opportunity outside of Hewlett-Packard, effective August 1st," an HP spokersperson said in an email.

Mike Cronin, director of strategy and operations for HP's Americas Technology Services will serve as acting general manager while HP actively recruits a new leader, according to the spokesperson.

In addition, Antonio Neri, vice president of customer experience and warranty services in HP's Personal Systems Group and a 16-year HP veteran, will take over as vice president and general manager of HP Technology Services on Aug. 1, replacing Gary Budzinski, head of HP Technology Services, who left the company in May.

The timing of Bottazzi's departure is puzzling, as he co-signed an HP e-mail sent to channel partners last week that outlined revised rules of engagement for the Technology Services group, under which HP direct sales reps that try to interfere with channel partners' opportunities could face termination. It's the first time HP has added this type of enforcement to regulations governing Technology Services engagements, which have been a source of channel conflict in the past.

The new Technology Services rules of engagement are in effect now in the U.S. and HP will roll them out globally on Nov. 1 along with its new ServiceONE specialization.

Technology Services has traditionally been considered off-limits to the channel and hasn't been a partner-friendly organization, one HP partner told CRN. "We've had some issues with them," said the source, who requested anonymity. "I'm really happy about the change in leadership because I believe change has to come from the top."

According to his bio page on HP's Web site, Bottazzi was responsible for marketing, sales, customer solution development, service delivery and account development in the Technology Services Americas division. His role also included working with alliance partners and channel partners on delivering solutions, as well as implementing tools and processes to provide support and service to HP clients.

Previously, Bottazzi led HP's services business in the Northeastern U.S., including Technology Services, Consulting and Outsourcing. He has also led account and partner sales teams, HP’s North America Marketing Center and various market-focused client teams.

HP CEO Leo Apotheker has made a priority of driving higher-margin services and is in the process of hiring an executive vice president of enterprise services. HP in May moved Technology Services into its Enterprise Servers, Storage and Networking (ESSN) business, under the leadership of Dave Donatelli, executive vice president and general manager.

Bottazzi is the latest in a long string of HP executive departures. In June, Ann Livermore, executive vice president of enterprise business, left her position and joined HP's Board of Directors. Pete Bocian, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, and Randy Mott, executive vice president and CIO, left HP.

In May, Marius Haas, senior vice president and general manager, HP Networking, left HP to "pursue other interests." Tom Iannotti, head of HP Enterprise Services, also left at that time.

This story updated on 7/27 at 4:30 p.m. Pacific time to add information from HP on Bottazzi's interim replacement.