Hewlett-Packard (HP), the $111.5-billion global information technology giant, has split into Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and HP Inc from November 1 onwards to create two Fortune 50 companies.
In an interaction with Deccan Herald, Neelam Dhawan, VP & GM, Enterprise Group, and Country Managing Director, HP India, said the split, which was declared one year back, will help the company deliver its services in a systematic way.
“Customers are looking for solutions to solve new complex problems. IT companies should approach this in different perspective and there is a growing business to business approach in this regard. The split will give a mandate to bring in new dynamism in the business landscape by focusing on innovation,” she said.
Dhawan said the business landscape is changing with the emergence of new age companies which is redefining the IT spend also. “They are not merely using IT efficiently but they are using IT differently. Their go-to market strategy is very short timed also. We want to be a partner in these changing business model with new IT solutions,” she said.
Dhawan said the company will become more agile to take quick decisions. “The split will help company to focus on four growing client demands. First, it will transform the hybrid use of cloud facilities. Second, it will perfect the digital transformation of enterprises. Three, it will empower a data-driven organisation, and finally, the split will also enable a workplace where productivity will be enhanced,” she said.
Both to be Gurgaon-based
When asked about the impact of the split in India, she said the company is already geared up for it and taps two separate sales forces for the two business entities since last year. The new HP Inc will be headed by Rajiv Srivastava, while Dhawan will head the new Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) . Both entities will continue to be based out of Gurgaon and their research and development will be based in Bengaluru.
On the hiring strategy, she said the company will hire as per its global and domestic demand. “We are expecting the demand will go up as there is growing domestic demand. We need a mix of people with more young talent to take on the emerging business segment. So campus hiring will be more this year. We will also re-skill existing staff to take on challenges,” said Dhawan.
HP is the one of the largest employers in India having over 50,000 on its rolls, largely in the IT services business.
Globally, it has a workforce of over 324,000 as of 2014. HP India also owns 61 per cent stake in MphasiS, which it inherited when HP’s parent firm acquired EDS in 2006.
Besides the 55,000 layoff announced under Chief Executive Meg Whitman, HP also announced in September to cut about 33,300 jobs over three years as the tech pioneer adjusts to falling demand.
When asked about the impact of the recent hiving off HP’s network security business TippingPoint to Trend Micro for $300 m, Dhawan didn’t comment on either its business impact or employee retrenchment.
Published 02 November 2015, 20:33 IST