Hewitt leaves HP for Vodafone Australia

By PETER GRIFFIN

IT veteran and Hewlett-Packard boss Russell Hewitt is leaving the PC industry behind, taking up a high-flying job with Vodafone's Australian operation.

The move follows a 25-year career in the local IT industry that culminated in Hewitt emerging on top to lead Hewlett-Packard after its acquisition of rival Compaq, which Hewitt was previously running.

The Vodafone job will put him in an executive role responsible for a range of business units, from Vodafone's billing and call centre operations through to customer service, mass markets and business markets.

Hewitt will step down from the boards of Hewlett-Packard, the Parenting with Confidence charity and Transmission Holdings, which contains the business of state-owned Broadcast Communications, following its separation from TVNZ.

He will remain a director of the Blue Star Print Group, which has operations in Australia.

Hewitt was pursued for the job by former Vodafone managing director Grahame Maher, who now heads Vodafone Australia and has been credited with revitalising the business, which has struggled against fierce competition from Telstra and Optus in the mobile market.

"It was a lovely call to get," said Hewitt.

"I think the skills I have are transferable."

Hewlett-Packard's failure to scoop a major IT outsourcing deal with dairy giant Fonterra had not played a part in Hewitt's departure, he said.

"That deal was run by international teams and they would have largely run the business if we'd won it."

The $590 million, seven-year deal went to rival EDS.