HP Channel Visionary Bill Sheldon Passes Away

Sheldon, 56, a 23-year HP veteran, pioneered the computer giant's push into the direct marketer channel, a move that was considered risky at the time, but paid off in huge sales growth for HP.

As former vice president of U.S. Commercial Channel Sales for the HP Imaging and Printing Group, Sheldon also fought hard to make sure HP continued to embrace channel partners when rival Dell entered the printer market and some inside the company were calling for a more aggressive direct sales push.

Sheldon even broke new channel ground after taking an early retirement option from HP in October 2005 by joining distributor Synnex and championing an innovative new managed services print business for solution providers. Sheldon began working as a consultant for the Fremont, Calif., distributor in December 2005 and was hired as senior vice president of document management and printing solutions one year ago.

Colleagues and friends, stunned by Sheldon's sudden passing, recalled his humor and ability to build strong personal relationships even in the midst of battles over business strategy.

Rich Raimondi, vice president of the graphic arts business for HP's Imaging and Printing Group, said Sheldon was responsible for a number of commercial channel breakthroughs at HP. "I don't know if I have met anybody in my time at HP who really understood the channel and what made it tick better than Bill," said Raimondi. "He could make things happen. He had channel vision and the ability to execute. Bill was able to look beyond where we were today and what we needed to do and then he could go make it happen. That was important to both channel partners and HP."

Raimondi said Sheldon championed HP's partners as the company's "biggest asset" in the battle against Dell when some were calling for a more aggressive direct stance from the company. "Bill said let's go fight for the hearts and minds of our customers with our partners," recalled Raimondi.

Raimondi said many of Sheldon's friends at HP had stayed in touch with him and were heart broken. "I can't tell you how many people have stopped me as word has spread," said Raimondi. "There is both disbelief and wonderful thoughts and memories of Bill and how much he has been missed since he left HP. The majority of people who worked with him still kept in contact with him, which is a wonderful sign."

Raimondi said Sheldon was an avid Yankees fan who sometimes would keep the Yankee games on in the background during HP conference calls when the Yankees were in the World Series. "I knew he would have the TV on in the background without the sound so I'd have to check with him on what the score was," recalled Raimondi. "More than anything what I remember most about Bill was that he was just a great human being. He had a great heart. He cared for people. He always focused on doing the right thing for the business and the right thing for people. He was a lot of fun to be with. He's still part of the HP family as far as all of us are concerned. It's a shock to all of us."

Sheldon also owned a boat and enjoyed fishing, though he did not get away as much as he would have liked, said Peter Larocque, president of U.S. Distribution for Synnex, who has known Sheldon for 10 years and helped recruit the former HP channel executive to join Synnex. Larocque said Sheldon, who also golfed, was a tireless worker. "Even if he didn't feel well," said Larocque. "I'd say, Bill take it easy. He liked what he did and working with all the young folks in this business."

Larocque said he had spoken with Sheldon on Monday before the surgery. He said Sheldon had recently sent out an email to former HP colleagues fighting for channel printing initiatives for Synnex VARs. "I'll keep that email," said Larocque. "He was always fighting for us and for our customers."

Larocque said colleagues could have an argument with Sheldon and not worry about bad feelings afterward. "There was not a vindictive bone in his body," said Larocque. "He would just move on. He always treated people very fairly. He was a real gentleman."

Larocque said in the short time that Sheldon was with Synnex he has built a successful managed services print business, a new channel model aimed at bringing solution providers higher margins in the intensely competitive printer market.

Synnex is planning a memorial placque honoring Sheldon at its Greenville, S.C., facility and has put together a memorial blog so that friends and colleagues can express their condolences. Sheldon leaves his wife, Jaclyn, an Episcopalean minister, and two sons, Jesse and David. Funeral arrangements were pending at press time. Larocque said Synnex is hoping that the blog postings will help Sheldon's family understand just how much he meant to everyone that he had worked with over the years.

"We are very sad," said Larocque. "He was a good husband, Dad and friend. He will be sorely missed."