Mark Hurd, CEO Hewlett-Packard, in an Exclusive Interview With CMP Media's CRN, Says HP Needs Channel Partners to Meet Goals

Hurd Confirms Commitment to Channel and Small and Medium Business Marketplace

PRNewswire-FirstCall
MANHASSET, N.Y.
Apr 24, 2006

The interview focused on Hurd's philosophy about how to align more closely with channel partners; his close study of the financial metrics that govern his company's alignment with the indirect channel; his thoughts about how to drive employee and partner behavior with innovative programs; as well as the company's reliance on channel partners in the small and medium business marketplace. "We look at the channel as a strategic advantage and not a strategic problem," Hurd says. With regards to channel partners, Hurd adds, "We need you. We can't get to every buying point. And even when we get to every buying point, we can't bring every solution. We need your help."

CMP Channel Group president and CRN columnist, Robert Faletra, secured an unprecedented one-on-one private interview with Hewlett-Packard CEO, Mark Hurd, and discussed how the company's technology solutions and the Channel fit into his long term plans for the company.

Excerpts of the interview can be found on http://www.crn.com/. The April 24 print edition of CRN will include details of the interview between Faletra and Hurd, as well as Hewlett-Packard Solution Providers' reaction to Hurd's strategy.

About CRN

CRN provides Solution Providers and Technology Integrators with the crucial information and analysis they need to drive their company's sales. As an advocate for and voice of the Channel, Solution Providers turn to CRN first for immediate information. With more than 20 years of experience, CRN is the most trusted source for 117,000 channel professionals. CRN can be found on the Web at http://www.crn.com/.

About CMP Media (http://www.cmp.com/)

CMP Media is a marketing solutions company serving the technology, healthcare and lifestyles industries. Through its market-leading portfolio of trusted information brands, CMP Media has earned the confidence of more professionals and enthusiasts in these fields than any other media company. As a result, CMP is the premier provider of access, insight and actionable programs designed to connect sellers and buyers in each of these industries in ways that yield superior return on investment. CMP Media is a subsidiary of United Business Media (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/), a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $3 billion.

  Contact:
  Laura Mastroberti
  CRN
  516.562.7382
  lmastroberti@cmp.com

SOURCE: CMP Media LLC; CRN

CONTACT: Laura Mastroberti of CRN, +1-516-562-7382,
lmastroberti@cmp.com

Web site: http://www.crn.com/
http://www.cmp.com/