Leadership Shake-Up At HP Inc.: PC Boss Departs, New Strategy Officer Arrives

Alex Cho, president of HP Inc.’s Personal Systems business, departs while Logitech veteran Prakash Arunkundrum is tapped for a newly created role: chief strategy and transformation officer.

HP Inc. announced several high-profile leadership changes Wednesday with the longtime leader of its PC division leaving, a new strategy officer coming aboard, and the appointment of a permanent leader for its North American market.

Alex Cho (pictured), president of HP’s Personal Systems business, who laid the foundation for what HP calls the “Future of Work,” is departing the company after three decades, HP President and CEO Enrique Lores announced via LinkedIn.

“Alex’s contributions are evident in nearly every part of our business. His leadership helped lay the foundation as we redefine the Future of Work. I want to personally thank him for his tireless dedication to our customers and partners, transformative impact, and relentless pursuit of innovation,” Lores wrote in the note posted Wednesday afternoon.

Stepping up to fill the role is Ketan Patel, who has been at the company for 20 years, rising through sales and marketing leadership positions across the countries and regions where HP sells its devices, Lores said.

“His deep understanding of our diverse customer needs makes him the ideal leader to bring the benefits of AI at the edge to life,” Lores said. “Please join me in celebrating Alex’s incredible legacy and welcoming Ketan into this exciting new chapter.”

Patel comes to the new role after spending three years as chief operating officer of global personal systems, leading the day-to-day activities of the division.

HP said Cho made the decision to leave HP and will leave on Dec. 31. Patel will officially take over on Nov. 1.

CRN has reached out to Cho and Patel for further comment about the moves but had not heard back by publication time.

There were other changes at HP Wednesday as well. Minutes after he announced Cho’s departure, Lores again took to LinkedIn to announce that the company had hired 10-year Logitech veteran Prakash Arunkundrum for a newly created role: chief strategy and transformation officer. Lores said Arunkundrum will play a pivotal role in shaping HP’s next chapter.

"This role brings together our long-term strategy and M&A with enterprise-wide transformation efforts, with a strong focus on AI-driven initiatives,” Lores wrote. “Prakash brings a wealth of experience, fresh energy, and a unique perspective to ensure HP is future-ready and positioned for long-term success.”

Arunkundrum is leaving his role as president, Logitech for business, where he led the end-to-end enterprise and SMB business for Logitech that spans all offerings, including video collaboration, desk solutions, software and services, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Arunkundrum will officially join the company on October 15. He posted a farewell note to LinkedIn where he thanked the “incredible people” he worked with.

“Over the past decade we have grown the market, built new businesses, designed better for the users and for the planet, increased value, built an operations powerhouse and navigated many macro-events,” he wrote. “Logitech has truly grown up. I am leaving Logitech feeling good about the tracks we’ve have laid together—trains are running well and the company is well positioned.”

CRN reached out Arunkundrum for further comment about the new role but had not heard back by publication time.

HP competes with Logitech in peripheral PC products such as computer mice, webcams and keyboards.

Cho’s departure and Patel’s elevation came on the same day that HP announced that George Brasher would take over as senior vice president and managing director of HP’s North American market.

CRN also reached out Brasher for further comment about the new role but had not heard back by publication time.

Beginning his career with HP as a senior financial analyst in 1990, Brasher has spent 35 years and lived and worked in three separate countries during his time at the company, he wrote in a LinkedIn message posted on Wednesday.

“[It’s] been a privilege to learn from so many talented colleagues,” he wrote. “I plan to bring those lessons and perspectives to this next chapter. Alongside our incredible North America leadership team, I’m grateful for the opportunity to build on the strong foundation they’ve established and to continue driving meaningful results for our customers, our partners, and the talented North America team.”