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HP loses two more execs

Two more Hewlett-Packard executives head for the door. Both are Compaq veterans based in Europe.

Ina Fried Former Staff writer, CNET News
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley.
Ina Fried
Two Hewlett-Packard services executives, both based in Europe and veterans of premerger Compaq, plan to leave the company.

Rene Schuster, the general manager of consulting and integration for HP Services, is leaving at the end of this month, according to the Palo Alto, Calif.-based tech giant. Also departing is Jim Kent, vice president of HP Services for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Kent, a 28-year HP and Compaq veteran, will step down early next year, HP said.

Schuster, a former KPMG consultant, joined Compaq in July 2000 as vice president and general manager of Compaq's U.K. and Ireland unit. Although he is based in Europe, he has global responsibilities and reports directly to HP Services chief Ann Livermore. He served as the head of Compaq's U.K. business before the company's merger with HP, which it completed 18 months ago.

Kent reports to Francesco Serafini, the head of HP Services for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Both executives are leaving for personal reasons, according to an HP representative, adding that the company is searching for replacements for the positions.

The departures are the latest in a series of exits from the company. Mary McDowell, a former Compaq server executive, left Oct. 31 "to pursue personal and professional interests." Webb McKinney, the HP executive who co-led the merger integration team, is retiring in December.