Dell suffers blow with loss of senior execs

Dell has been hit by the departure of its VP for the UK and Ireland and sales manager of its partner programme, in a move that places its channel relations under a cloud of uncertainty.

Mike Newton, Dell UK vice president, left the PC manufacturer on 5 November.

He joined Dell in December 1996 as MD of the corporate sales arm.

A source close to Newton expressed surprise at his abrupt departure.

'No one knows what happened to Mike. He was in one day and out the next,' the source claimed. Dell confirmed Newton's departure but refused to comment further.

Dell sales manager Mark McCarthy was employed for three years, but will leave the company at the end of this year. McCarthy was responsible for fostering relations with resellers, but was asked to leave on 13 November.

Dell's commitment to resellers was called to question. The manufacturer pushes 15 per cent of its business in the UK through resellers.

One source said: 'Potentially, the two departures are related because they (McCarthy and Newton) both agreed the strategy for channel partners.'

Another said: 'This latest move by Dell gives us a real problem. There are 65 resellers and Mark was looking to recruit more. He even talked to Compaq resellers. Is there going to be a reseller channel? Dell needs to clarify its position.'