Hewlett-Packard President and CEO Meg Whitman has brought an old friend into the company's executive suite with the hiring of a new communications direct.
HP on Tuesday unveiled Henry Gomez as its new executive vice president and chief communications officer and member of HP's executive council.
Gomez is no stranger to calling Whitman boss. The 46-year-old Gomez spent a decade as senior vice president for corporate communications and president of Skype while Whitman served as CEO of that company.
More recently, he was part of the leadership team of Whitman's unsuccessful 2010 campaign to become governor of California.
Gomez's move to HP on the coattails of his former employer mirrors that of HP's last director of communications, Bill Wohl.
Wohl handled communications for Leo Apotheker, who was fired as HP president and CEO shortly before Whitman took the spot. Prior to Apotheker's move to HP, Wohl served as his communications right hand while Apotheker served as CEO of SAP.
Wohl in October left HP about a month after being reassigned to another position.
Whitman, in a prepared statement released by HP, called Gomez an excellent manager and communications executive.
"People around the world care deeply about HP, and I believe we have an important obligation to clearly explain where we're headed and why. Henry will work closely with the entire leadership team to make certain customers, partners, employees, and shareholders fully understand our vision and strategy," Whitman said in the statement.
