Compaq Senior Vice President Hans Gutsch Becomes Latest Executive to Leave
By Loren Steffy
Houston, June 16 (Bloomberg) -- Compaq Computer Corp. Senior Vice President Hans Gutsch stepped down, the latest top executive to leave since the biggest personal-computer maker reported first- quarter earnings that were half what Wall Street forecast.
Gutsch, 55, joined Houston-based Compaq 11 years ago and was in charge of the company's human resources and environmental operations. No successor was named. Gutsch's retirement from the company is effective immediately, Compaq said.
Gutsch's departure comes as Compaq searches for a chief executive to replace Eckhard Pfeiffer, who was ousted by Chairman Ben Rosen in April. The company is struggling to cut costs, increase direct sales and complete its integration of Digital Equipment Corp., which it bought last year for $9 billion.
Chief Financial Officer Earl Mason left the same day as Pfeiffer. Chief Operating Officer John Rose, a key Pfeiffer lieutenant, resigned June 2. John Rando, head of the services business that Compaq acquired with Digital, plans to leave July 1, and Michael Heil, head of worldwide sales, stepped down in late April.
Compaq ran into trouble earlier this year as demand from corporate customers slowed and prices for PCs tumbled. The company has been losing market share to nimbler competitors such as Dell Computer Corp., which sells directly to customers via the telephone and the Internet. |
