多読2 2 Executives Leaving in Dell Restructuring

By MATT RICHTEL, The New York Times, Jan. 1, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO ― Two top Dell executives brought in by Michael S. Dell as part of his effort to restart the computer maker’s growth have departed, the company announced on Wednesday.
Michael R. Cannon, president of Dell’s global operations, will step down on Jan. 31. He was hired by the company two years ago as one of the first major hires made by Mr. Dell after his return as chief executive to the company he founded.
Mark Jarvis, who was hired from Oracle by Mr. Dell as the company’s first chief marketing officer, will also leave. Both Mr. Cannon and Mr. Jarvis will be consultants for Dell after their departure.
The company said the moves were part of an effort to reorganize the company around global market segments. Dell said it was reorganizing three of its four major product segments ― large corporations, small and medium-size businesses, and other institutions like government ― into global entities. The company said the change would allow faster development and deployment of standardized products across the world.
The company’s fourth major product group, which focuses on the consumer market, already operates globally.
The changes reflect Dell’s desire to grow faster overseas. Company executives have also said the company is interested in making more acquisitions.
But the overhaul also comes as Dell has continued to struggle against tough competition from Hewlett-Packard, Apple, Acer and a number of overseas makers.
As consumer preferences shifted to laptops from desktops, Dell lost some of its cost advantages against those rivals. Mr. Cannon, in particular, as the former chief executive of Solectron, a major electronics contract manufacturer, was brought in to help the company cut supplier costs. His efforts included closing down Dell factories.
In a statement, the company credited Mr. Cannon with “many contributions to transforming the company’s supply chain and improving its cost competitiveness.”
Wall Street analysts have been concerned that Mr. Dell is not taking the right steps ― and not moving fast enough ― to enable the company to grow faster than rivals.
Dell’s shares closed Wednesday at $10.24, up a penny. A year ago, the shares were trading at around $25.
David Frink, a Dell spokesman, characterized the departures as a positive development at the company and not a shake-up. He said that Mr. Cannon would be succeeded by Jeffrey W. Clarke, who will take the title of vice chairman for global operations. Currently, Mr. Clarke oversees the division that sells products to businesses.
Mr. Jarvis will be succeeded by Erin Nelson, who currently holds the title of vice president for marketing. ■