HP shakes up management, targets Asia

Hewlett-Packard Co. moved a veteran executive onto its board and announced the departure of two senior officers amid a major management shakeup, and put new focus on China and India.

Chief Executive Leo Apotheker, who took over at the world’s No. 1 computer maker in September, is under pressure to turn around HP, which is struggling to hold on to its place in the technology sector. It trimmed its sales forecast for the second straight quarter last month.

Ann Livermore, who runs HP’s enterprise business, has been appointed to the HP board and will step down from her day-to-day management of the division, the company said Monday.

All customer-facing units — including software, sales, servers and storage — now report directly to Apotheker.

Apotheker is also fortifying efforts to improve market share in China and India, regions seen as crucial for success.

Todd Bradley, who leads HP’s Personal Systems Group, will also focus on expanding the company’s share in China, while Vyomesh Joshi, who leads the Imaging and Printing Group, will lead similar efforts in India.

Among the latest to leave the company are Pete Bocian, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, and Randy Mott, executive vice president and chief information officer.

Hewlett-Packard shares rose a few cents to $34.73 in after-hours trading, after closing down 60 cents, or 1.3%, at $34.65.