Henry Gomez, a longtime PR advsior to H-P CEO Meg Whitman, has been tapped as executive VP and chief communications officer for the computer giant.
Gomez |
Whitman, after taking the reins in September in the wake of Leo Apothekar's ouster, installed H-P veteran Lynn Anderson as interim CCO.
“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," Whitman said in a statement. "Henry will work closely with the entire leadership team to make certain customers, partners, employees, and shareholders fully understand our vision and strategy."
The 48-year-old Gomez worked PR for eBay for a decade under Whitman and led corporate communications for its Skype unit, which it sold in 2009. As an independent consultant in recent years, he advsied Whitman's losing run for California governor and handled corporate clients.
Gomez moved to the online auction site in 2000 after a stint as VP of corporate affairs at HBO.
The H-P post, reporting directly to Whitman, oversees media and analyst relations, executive and employee communications, government affairs, social innovation and sustainability.
Apothekar was bounced after 11 months following a tumultuous tenure that included the $11.7B Autonomy deal and demise of H-P's touchPad tablet. Whitman, who had a board seat before being named CEO, is H-P's seventh CEO since 1999.