DELL Brazil news. Note that two of the new DELL management team personnel are former Compaq Brazil people.
Fez
__________________________________________
DELL ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR NEW BRAZILIAN OPERATION
Kevin Rollins, Vice Chairman of Dell Computer Corporation, Makes His First Official Visit to the Country in Advance of the Company's Brazil Customer Center Inauguration
Porto Alegre, Sept. 30, 1999 -- Dell© Computer Corporation (Nasdaq: DELL), the world's leading direct computer systems company, has announced the appointment of Steven Lawrence as general manager of Dell Brazil. Lawrence will join Dell Brazil to launch the company's newest customer center outside the United States and the opening of Dell's Latin America manufacturing facility in November. Lawrence is to direct all Brazilian management, manufacturing, sales, marketing and finance initiatives.
Dell Vice Chairman Kevin Rollins announced the appointment of Lawrence, noting Lawrence's extensive experience in managing global operations in the Latin America region.
"Brazil boasts one of the highest growth potentials for Dell," Rollins said. "Dell's new Brazil Customer Center will serve not only Brazil nationwide, but also the entire Mercosur region, positioning Dell as a regional leader in offering complete solutions to both corporate customers and consumers."
Since entering Europe, Asia, and Japan, Dell continues to outpace the industry in overall PC shipments, and in Q2 1999, became the No. 1 supplier of personal computer systems in the United States, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC). IDC also reports Dell has moved to the No. 5 computer systems vendor in Latin America. Dell separately noted its unit shipments have grown more than 180 percent over the past two years. The first Latin America office was established in 1993 in Mexico City.
"In Brazil, we plan to reproduce the same Dell business model that has been so successful in other regions. Customers in Brazil are eager to access Dell's customized solutions, quality products that incorporate new technology, award-winning service and support, and extensive online capabilities," said Lawrence.
Lawrence joined Dell in August 1999 and was formerly president and business unit general manager for Pepsi-Cola International (PCI). He most recently headed Pepsi-Cola's operations in Mexico and Central America. He will be relocating to Porto Alegre from Dell's Austin, Texas headquarters. At Dell, he reports to Daryl Robertson, vice president and general manager of Dell Latin America.
A former 18-year Pepsi-Cola executive, Lawrence was responsible for the company's bottling operations in Spain and also served as senior vice president of Pepsi-Cola Western Europe. He was president and chief operating officer for GEMEX, a PCI joint venture in Mexico and the company's largest international bottler, before being appointed the company's general manager in Mexico.
"With the combination of Steve's extensive experience in both consumer and business-to-business throughout the Latin American region and Daryl's IT experience as well as nine-year contribution to developing and evolving Dell's direct business model, we believe Dell Brazil has one of the strongest executive management teams in the region and a winning combination," Rollins said.
The new general manager also introduced other key members of Dell Brazil's management team, noting they are "a group of highly skilled professionals from the Brazilian market who will provide the local know-how we need to ensure a successful operation," said Lawrence. Dell Brazil's management team includes:
Antonio Carlos Faraco Pires -- Manufacturing Director, who will be responsible for operations at the interim plant in Eldorado and will oversee development of the permanent facility in Alvorado. He comes to Dell Brazil from Motorola and IBM Brazil, where he held numerous executive management positions in manufacturing, industrial engineering, new products development, purchasing and quality over his 20-year tenure.
Eduardo Strazzeri -- Corporate Accounts Sales and Marketing Director, will be in charge of corporate accounts as well as all marketing activities targeting this segment. He was formerly South America director for the Personal Computer Division of ABC Bull S/A. He also was a founder and director of ABCOM Informatica, where he helped to develop distribution channels for IT products from Novell, Microsoft, APC, 3COM, NetWorth and Cheyenne Software.
Fernando Augusto Loureiro -- Corporate Affairs Director, responsible for all external communications. He was former director of Corporate Affairs at Compaq Brazil and was responsible for communications, government relations and legal. He has served as director of the IT Group of ABINEE -- Brazilian Association of Electrical-Electronic Industry and Vice President at APRIMESC -- Brazilian Association of IT Industry.
Jairo Avritchir -- Information Technology Director, responsible for managing and evolving the information systems supporting Dell's newest manufacturing facility, Brazilian Customer Center and E-commerce infrastructure. He previously held the position of vice president, Latin America for Banco J.P. Morgan, responsible for the bank's technology and operations in the region.
Juan Manuel Sanchez -- Human Resources Director, Latin America, will help build the executive, manufacturing, sales and marketing staff for Dell Brazil. A member of the Dell Latin America team in Austin, he has held executive and managerial positions in the United States with Coca Cola, McDonald's and GTE.
Luis Carlos Freitas -- Finance Director with 25 years of experience in the finance sector. He served 15 years as finance director in different companies at the B.A.T. (British American Tobacco) Group in Brazil and abroad, and 10 years with the Development Bank in Rio de Janeiro.
Roberto Martinez -- Home and Small Business Sales and Marketing Director, will be responsible for the home office and small/medium business segment. He is currently in charge of the same customer segment at Dell's Latin American team in Austin and will relocate to Porto Alegre in the coming months. Prior to joining Dell, Roberto was the director of the Corporate Strategy and Privatization Practice of Barents Group, a subsidiary of KPMG specializing in emerging markets around the world.
Ronaldo Araki -- Customer Services Director, will be responsible for customer and technical support. His IT service and support experience includes management positions with Compaq Computer Brazil, AT&T Global Information Solutions (formerly NCR), and Itautec Informatica.
Dell's Brazil plant, which will begin operations in an interim facility in the city of Eldorado do Sul, in Rio Grande do Sul, and then open a permanent facility in Alvorado, will initially sell, manufacture and deliver its products mainly to the Brazilian market. Dell has ambitious plans for further expansion in neighboring countries. |
