Isherwood says HPE needs to be quicker as he rejigs EMEA business

Former UK MD Andy Isherwood claims new role running EMEA is an honour

HPE's new EMEA chief Andy Isherwood has put his stamp on the region's business, rejigging a number of divisions and moving around top execs.

At HPE's Global Partner Conference (GPC), which is taking place in Boston, a day after HP its partner bash at the same venue, Isherwood said taking on the role of EMEA boss is "an honour".

Since taking on the top job in the summer, he has decided to reorganise aspects of the business, which will come into play from 1 November, the company's new fiscal year.

From then, David Chalmers, HPE's current chief technologist in EMEA, will run an organisation to be known as BEST - Business Development, Enablement Solutions and Technology Group.

"We've pulled all the capability to try and build more repeatable solutions as we move forward," Isherwood said.

Iain Stephen, HPE's current general manager for servers, will lead a Datacentre and Hybrid Cloud Group.

"It's taking the assets from the datacentre, coupling it with software-defined, and the third element is really trying to nurture new growth opportunities. I don't think incubation is something we have done very well at HP. We create lots of create stuff but we don't create new markets quick enough and we don't really tap into those profit pools as quickly as we can."

Further, Gilles Thiebaut, HPE's vice president for indirect sales in EMEA will take on a role which is as yet undisclosed. Isherwood said it would be announced next week.

He added that next week he will also reveal who will take on a new unit focused on verticals, IP and alliances.

More widely in his own role, Isherwood said the "only measure" of success for him will be taking profitable market share from its competitors.

"That's what I am about; that's what I want to do," he said. "I want to make sure we're relevant moving forward. We need to make sure we really focus on what we're good at. Last, but not least, we have got to be quicker. Because we are smaller, we have got to be quicker to take share and the opportunities as we see them. That is what I am about and that is what you will see and feel in the EMEA organisation."