Enterprise talent exits HPE and HP Inc Australia

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc have lost at least three senior executives, each with more than a decade of tenure at the organisations.

Branko Bugarski left the company last week after nearly 12 years, most recently as HPE's South Pacific head of software. A spokesperson told CRN that Bugarski had "left Hewlett Packard Enterprise to pursue other opportunities and we are currently in the process of appointing a successor".

Bugarski told CRN he was planning to take a few months out.

Another long-serving HP staffer to exit is Manpal Jagpal, who departed more than a month ago after almost 15 years at HP and Compaq. Most recently, he worked in the inkjet division at HP Inc, and is also known for his experience in the enterprise networking business unit.

A spokesperson for HP Inc confirmed Jagpal's departure and said "the role is open".

Multiple well-placed sources have told CRN that Jagpal, along with another highly respected senior executive from HPE's server division, are set to join Dicker Data. CRN has chosen not to name the server leader, as it is understood he is still serving out his notice at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, having spent the past 12 years rising through the company's ranks.

Dicker Data would not comment when contacted by CRN.

The distributor has long been regarded as HP's top Australian distie. According to the most recent available information, the combined HPE and HP Inc portfolio was worth more than a quarter of a billion dollars a year for Dicker Data.

HPE's recent consolidation of its distributor roster can only be positive for Dicker Data, along with the other HPE disties, notably Ingram Micro and newly appointed Distribution Central.

Dicker Data has had a run of high-profile hires in recent weeks. Former Targus national channels manager Steve Lovelace joined the distributor in May, according to LinkedIn, while DPSA national business manager Astrid Groves also joined Dicker Data to run the distie's Schneider Electric business. Groves' change came after her previous employer lost its account with Schneider.

In a presentation to investors yesterday, Dicker Data revealed its profits have been tracking ahead of forecast for the first quarter to end of March. Revenue was up 11.4 percent to $267.7 million for the March quarter versus a year before, thanks in part to "strong performance with existing vendors".  The company expect a pre-tax profit of $35 million for the 2016 full year.

The senior departures at HP and Hewlett Packard come amid a tumultuous time for the company. Having only completed its gargantuan separation into two companies last year, the enterprise business is now spinning off its services division – which was created through its US$14 billion acquisition of EDS in 2008 – and merging it with CSC to create a US$26 billion standalone IT provider.

HP has been underperforming in Australia for years, with its most recent annual report with corporate regulator ASIC revealing a $229 million loss. It was the fourth loss-making year in a row, equating to almost half a billion dollars in red ink since 2011.