H-P Separates PC, Printer Units

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ Quote) is separating its PC and printer businesses, just five months after joining the operations, and the company named former PalmOne (PLMO Quote) CEO R. Todd Bradley executive vice president of the personal systems group.

H-P's personal systems unit includes the company's notebook and desktop PCs, handhelds, monitors, workstations and related support services. Bradley spent four years at PalmOne, three of those as president and CEO.

Vyomesh Joshi, who had served as executive vice president of the combined business unit, will resume his former role as executive vice president of the imaging and printing group.

In a press release, the company said "by managing PSG and IPG as separate, highly focused organizations, we can further sharpen our competitiveness and improve our cost structures."

Shares of H-P closed Monday at $23.89 on the New York Stock Exchange.