Stevenson quits HP to join Digital

Hewlett Packard's UK marketing director James Stevenson jumped ship on Monday to join arch-rival Digital as general manager of the Systems business unit.

The move came amid rumours that Digital is to break up its components and peripherals arm, dropping the pieces into other divisions.

Stevenson left HP and took a wealth of competitive knowledge to Digital Systems, one source said. Digital UK and Ireland country manager Richard Jones has been covering the job of Digital Systems general manager while the company made the appointment.

A source said HP did not promote Stevenson or his boss, systems general manager Karen Slatford, during its move to integrate systems and PC/peripherals, so he felt there was more opportunity elsewhere.

But there seems little opportunity for Digital's components and peripherals arm, said a source close to the company. 'I think it's all over for them.

Sun River took over some terminals business and Charles Christ (VP and general manager of Digital's components division) is moving.' Digital had not confirmed that Christ has become head of its manufacturing arm as PC Dealer went to press.

Last week components and peripherals lost Digital's technical OEM embedded chip business and its computer special systems unit to Digital Systems.

Digital components and peripherals has also lost the Multia client to Digital's PC business unit. One Digital reseller said the move makes sense but creates a problem for Frontline, Multia's only UK distributor. 'The interesting thing is that Multia hasn't taken off since it was product of the year a couple of years ago.'

The source said Multia switched from Digital Alpha processors to Intel eight months ago but 'that has not made much difference' to sales.