HPE Creates New Cloud Division Amid Management Departures

Hewlett Packard Enterprise has given its core business a restructuring, creating a new cloud unit that will include HPE’s Helion OpenStack platform and Helion CloudSystem.

The changes come as Bill Hilf, senior vice president of HPE’s cloud business, leaves the company a month after HPE stalwart Martin Fink announced his retirement.

The new business unit is called the Software-Defined and Cloud Group (SDCG), and will be headed up by data centre infrastructure senior vice president Ric Lewis. Hilf revealed on August 1 that he is leaving to pursue other opportunities.

Common mission

In a post on HPE’s blog, Antonio Neri, executive vice president of HPE’s enterprise group, said: “By bringing these assets together, we create a single organization tasked with a common mission – to provide best-in-class solutions that enable developers and operators to deploy their applications across traditional and cloud infrastructures, simply and effortlessly.”

The restructuring follows last month’s announcement of the spin-off and merger of HPE’s Enterprise Services business with CSC. HPE said the changes better address the demands of a competitive market, and its customers and partners will be better served.

“This is an exciting day for EG as we announce changes that will strengthen the organization and help us win in the markets where we compete,” said Neri.

Other managerial changes include Bill Philbin will be taking charge of HPEs storage business, which was previously held by Manish Goel who has also left the company.

“This is an exciting time for Hewlett Packard Enterprise. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish next. I believe the best is yet to come,” remarked Neri.

Whitman says no to Trump

HPE CEO Meg Whitman also managed to steal some limelight this week, but for an altogether more political matter.

The boss has officially endorsed Hilary Clinton as the next US president, penning a Facebook status about her decision, as a republican, to go against Donald Trump.

“Trump’s reckless and uninformed positions on critical issues – from immigration to our economy to foreign policy – have made it abundantly clear that he lacks both the policy depth and sound judgment required as President,” she said.

“Trump’s unsteady hand would endanger our prosperity and national security. His authoritarian character could threaten much more.”

The post has so far garnered more than 25,000 likes and nearly 5,000 comments.

“I have decided to support Hillary Rodham Clinton. It is clear to me that Secretary Clinton’s temperament, global experience and commitment to America’s bedrock national values make her the far better choice in 2016 for President of the United States. In a tumultuous world, America needs the kind of stable and aspirational leadership Secretary Clinton can provide. I urge all Republicans to reject Donald Trump this November,” she said.

This isn’t Hewlett Packard’s only run in with presidential elections. Carly Fiorina, HP’s CEO from 1999 to 2005, was an advisor to Republican Senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign before becoming a major candidate herself in the 2016 Republican presidential primary. She was then the vice-presidential running mate of Ted Cruz until he suspended campaigning back in May.

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