HP Names Channel Execs For Combined PCs And Printers Group

merged its PC and printer businesses

Mike Parrottino, who has been leading U.S. channel sales for HP's Personal Systems Group since last September, is now head of the PPS Americas channel organization. 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 organization we are meeting our business objectives," Solomon said in a letter sent to partners outlining the PPS leadership changes, which HP shared with CRN.

Scott Dunsire, previously vice president of Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) business and sales management in the Americas Solution Partners Organization, is now leading U.S. 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 U.S. 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 HP CEO Meg Whitman's priorities is to simplify HP's internal organizations 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 organizational 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 organization, and HP Technology Services-- 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.