Fortuin quits HP

By Staff Writer for Hewlett-Packard SA
Johannesburg, 22 May 2009

Hewlett-Packard (HP) SA country manager Oliver Fortuin is tight-lipped about his sudden departure from the company. Fortuin left the company yesterday and media speculate that he is moving back to IBM.

He was appointed as country manager seven months ago. Fortuin also served as MD of the company's Technology Services Group (TSG).

HP SA says it will begin the search for a new country manager next week. Meanwhile, its controller, Gois Fouch'e, will take over as interim country manager, as well as MD of TSG.

Santiago Cortes, MD and VP, TSG, HP Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa, is expected to lead the search for the new country manager.

According to HP SA, Fortuin handed in his resignation on Monday. Neither the company, nor Fortuin, would say why he left.

Fortuin declined to comment but did disclose that it was an amicable parting.

Fortuin succeeded Thoko Mokgosi-Mwantembe, who had been MD of HP SA since 2004, in November last year. He headed TSG since April 2007 and was previously responsible for HP's services and outsourcing business.

HP SA spokesperson Hedy Gorton would not comment further on the resignation, only saying the company thanked Fortuin for his three-and-a-half-years of service. She could not say whether Fortuin was leaving for IBM.