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Technology Stocks : Compaq -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: dav who wrote (64035)	6/23/1999 8:28:00 PM
From: Elwood P. Dowd	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 97611

Compaq board may get CEO short list By Dawn Kawamoto Staff Writer, CNET News.com June 23, 1999, 5:05 p.m. PT Compaq board members may get their first glimpse of prospective candidates for chief executive when they hold their regularly scheduled meeting tomorrow, according to sources. The three-member search committee that is seeking to fill the vacant post is expected to update the board on its progress and may provide a short list of candidates, one source said. Although the search has been underway since April, sources said board members have not been presented with any names. One executive frequently mentioned for a top spot in the PC industry is George Fisher, CEO of Kodak. Compaq has been without a CEO since Eckhard Pfeiffer was ousted from the top position after sluggish sales and a poor earnings performance. Board chairman Benjamin Rosen and vice chairmen Frank Doyle and Robert Ted Enloe formed a three-member office of the CEO to handle the company's daily operations. That group has begun a major reorganization of its business units, replacing top-level executives while coping with back-to-back quarters that surprised Wall Street with lower-than-expected earnings. "These three are not caretakers. They're not waiting to make the changes that need to be done until a CEO is named. In this industry, you have to move fast. And even if they named a CEO tomorrow, he would need at least six to nine months to learn the company and the culture," a source said. Related news stories • Compaq sees shortfall, plans reorg June 17, 1999 • Compaq names COO, top exec June 2, 1999

To: dav who wrote (64035)	6/24/1999 7:37:00 AM
From: hlpinout	Respond to of 97611

dav, Compaq.com is tied to AV so one would think/hope that the deal would include the continued link(s) - Compaq Launches Compaq.com (02/01/99, 12:46 p.m. ET) By Joe Wilcox, Computer Reseller News Compaq has launched a new Compaq.com business division as part of a plan to dramatically increase sales via the Web. The Houston-based computer maker announced the new division just three days after spinning off its AltaVista search engine as a separate company. During the AltaVista Co. launch, Compaq CEO Eckhard Pfeiffer made it clear the company would promote, sell, and deliver Compaq products and services via the Web, using Compaq.com to deliver what he called "superior value to our customers." Kenny Kurtzman, former vice president of Compaq's small and midsized business division, will head the new operation as vice president and general manager. Kurtzman was responsible for Compaq's November Prosignia small- and midsized-business launch, which offered systems directly to customers or in conjunction with VARs collecting an agent fee. The Prosignia program and a similar Web-sales effort on the consumer front are "exceeding our expectations," said Pfeiffer. "We've been running more than $1 million a day in [the Prosignia] category alone. To add, we are running in excess of a million on the consumer side, as well." It was not immediately apparent how the new initiative would affect resellers, but Pfeiffer said in a prepared statement that the new organization would use the Internet "to not only sell systems and solutions, but also to build stronger relationships with our customers -- from personalized websites for consumers to highly integrated extranets for global corporations." Eric Feldman, director of corporate accounts at Computerland of Plainview, N.Y., praised Compaq's Internet play, but also worried about its long-term impact. "I know what they're doing with AltaVista, and it's a great strategy," Feldman said. "Compaq.com is a smart move for Compaq, but I don't know if it's good for dealers." Compaq may have decided to expand its online sales presence because it is getting more efficiencies from DirectPlus at call centers and off the Web, Feldman said. Compaq officials said 514 VARs participate in the Prosignia agent program. Lindy Lesperance, analyst at Technology Business Research, in Hampton, N.H., said Compaq is stepping up considerably its attempt to win business via the Internet. Lesperance said it is another sign that VARs must make their profits on value-added services rather than desktop systems. "Anybody having any doubt that Compaq was serious about taking a major portion of their business direct -- this will clear it up," said Lesperance. This would increase the exposure since CMGI and tremendous advertising power from current agreements and when you add Lycos (potentially)... CPQ saves money from advertising, pick up funds from the sale, and increase exposure/sales. JMHO smartmoney.com