HPE CEO sees 'light at end of tunnel' following Chinese workers' office return

Antonio Neri announces that HPE Discover will now be a digital event as he unveils $2bn in additional financing for COVID-19-hit customers

HPE's CEO says the vendor is developing recovery plans to return its staff to work "on a country-by-country basis" as he unveiled $2bn in additional financing for customers hit by COVID-19.

In a blog post published yesterday, Antonio Neri also announced that HPE Discover will now be a virtual event.

His address featured a video created by HPE's team in Dalian, China, where some staff are beginning to return to work.

"You can make it, Europe," one Chinese employee says (see below).

Neri said he was "particularly moved" by the video, which he billed as a "good reminder that we are one HPE family, and we will get through this together".

"We are living through challenging times, but I am optimistic that we are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel," he said.

"In Europe, for example, governments have begun planning to lift 'stay at home' measures. We are developing recovery plans so we can return people to work on a country-by-country basis in a thoughtful manner when the time comes."

HPE yesterday announced it had designated more than $2bn in financing specifically for customers hit by the crisis. Through its new Payment Relief Programme, customers can acquire new technology and defer over 90 per cent of the cost until 2021, Neri said.

HPE Discover 2020 will now be held as a digital event on 22 June, Neri added.

"While I will miss the opportunity to spend time in person with our customers and partners, I know the virtual experience we deliver in June will be best-in-class, and our audiences will find it tremendously valuable," he said.