HP boss takes skills to IBM

6 Jul 2009

The surprise resignation of the local manager of technology developer HP has been explained, with his reappearance as the new general manager of IBM sub-Saharan Africa.

Oliver Fortuin quit HP in May 2009 after only seven months in the job. He will take over at IBM today, rejoining the company that he left several years ago after heading IBM's PC business in Africa.

No replacement has been found as yet. One reason for the delay is that the appointment needs ratifying by a regional manager who is himself new to the job.

HP had not yet decided whether to choose a local black boss, or to bring in a foreigner with international experience.

Fortuin will replace IBM's long serving country manager Mark Harris, who has led IBM SA for more than 10 years. Harris has been promoted to vice-president of business development for a region spanning central and eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Source: Business Day

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