HP unifies UK channel

All partners to have a single point of contact

Hewlett-Packard (HP) has tweaked its channel structure in the UK to simplify business for partners.

Following its merger with Compaq, HP's channel business was divided into two areas, enterprise and commercial. Each had different people dealing with the channel.

Following talks with partners, HP has announced it is to have a unified channel organisation in the UK. It will be led by Andy Vickers, whose new title is channel and SMB director.

"It made sense to bring all partners under one channel with one point of contact rather than confusing everyone with several points of contact.

What we have done gives a consistent message to our partners and simplify the whole process," said Vickers.

HP's other three business groups, enterprise systems, personal systems group and imaging and printing group, remain unaffected by the change.

Tony Craythorne, sales director at distributor Ideal Enterprise Solutions, said: "I think this is a sensible decision. It gives channel partners a single point of communication."