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Apotheker, who took the helm on Nov. 1, said he is "excited" to spend more time digging into HP's technology. "We are in a unique position to drive a better, more consistent, and unified user experiences across our portfolio like our converged infrastructure," he said. "And we can leverage even more technologies to create an integrated value added solution in addition to our point products. Just as our customers knock down their technology silohs, we have the opportunity to knock down a few of our own."
Apotheker did not talk about his indirect channel sales philosophy, but he did signal that he will continue to expand HP's direct sales force. That was one of the major initiatives of former HP CEO Mark Hurd, who added thousands of new direct sales reps to the HP's workforce.
Apotheker said he will continue to beef up HP's direct sales force. "We feel that adding all these people we can provide our customers way better service so we'll continue doing that," he said.
What's more, Apotheker said he aims to make sure that the direct sales force is "well trained, and totally focused on providing solutions to our customers. Trust me, we'll be focusing on that even more in the future."
Apotheker also gave some good news to HP employees announcing that he is reinstating salary increases for the new fiscal year. "I believe in a performance- driven culture and our employees have been performing," he said. "It is well deserved."
Apotheker said the strong fourth quarter and full fiscal year results show that HP is "winning in the market" with an "impressive ability to execute."
"This is evidence of our strong operating leverage, our leadership position, our ability to grow in higher margin categories and our strong balance sheet," he said. "We are carrying this momentum into FY (Fiscal Year) 2011."
HP, in fact, raised its full year fiscal 2011 revenue in the range of $132 billion to $133.5 billion with non-GAAP diluted earnings per share in the range of $5.16 to $5.26.
In the press call, Apotheker did reference the Oracle controversy that has dogged him since being named CEO. "A competitor has tried to distract us and you," he said, noting that HP has remained "intensely focused" on growing sales.
Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, in fact, had threatened to serve a subpoena to Apotheker if he showed up at HP's Palo Alto, Calif. headquarters during his first several weeks on the job. Oracle was attempting to subpoena Apotheker in a software theft case with rival SAP that covered at least some of the period that Apotheker was CEO of SAP. There were even reports that Oracle had hired private investigators to find Apotheker.
When asked where he was during the quarterly conference call, Apotheker said he was indeed at HP's headquarters with the HP management team. "What really matters to our investors and employees is HP's business performance," he said.
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