CEO's and senior managers from leading IT companies gain first hand knowledge of best practices and profitability in knowledge-based IT economy
DUBAI, UAE, March 17, 2005 - HP has successfully concluded its HP Business Academy which took place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt this week, for a delegation of high powered executives representing IT partners flown in from across the Middle East. Participants learned about global best practice topics such as change management and profitability, HP is underscoring its leadership role as a regional innovator and facilitator by bringing together key players in IT from across borders and cultures.
"The HP Business Academy targeted top ranking management from our IT partners from across the Arab world," explained Hazem Bazan, Manager, Solution Partner Organisation, HP Middle East. "In the region's fast changing business landscape, the expansion of the knowledge-based economy presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Change management - a key topic - is vital for maximising growth and profitability in this dynamic IT market. At the HP Business Academy, we aimed to address this and other crucial issues, such as financing, sales and corporate reputation, faced by all of the corporate executives and business stakeholders attending," he said.
Bazan said that the 30 delegates at the HP Business Academy comprised chairmen, managing directors, general managers and other senior managers in their league, from countries that included all of the Levant and the GCC states and Iraq. "The diverse cross-section of delegates all share common issues in their IT business that HP advised them on during this networking-style event. HP has a lead role to play in this region to promote and cultivate 'smart business'. We are delighted to support our partners with this forward-thinking forum that we believe will become a milestone for knowledge sharing and best practice in the pan-Arab IT world,"
Key themes at the three-day Forum included Financial Management and Financial Dynamics in Sales; Segmenting and Managing Customers; Managing and Motivating Sales, and Developing a Corporate Image and Public Relations. There were also specialised workshops on Engaging your Business for Growth and Building a Customer Portfolio.
The HP Business Academy at Sharm El Sheikh was conducted by Beachgrass Consulting, a consulting firm from Geneva, Switzerland.
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About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended Jan. 31, 2005, HP revenue totalled $81.8 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.
About HP Middle East
HP is the largest technology and solutions provider in the Middle East with 670 employees and subsidiaries in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Cairo and Ramallah servicing the GCC, Egypt and the Levant. HP has been present in the Middle East since 1968, and opened its first regional office in 1994.HP Middle East is the market leader for Enterprise, Small and Medium Business and Consumer technology products, and offers a large portfolio of solutions and services in various business domains.
For more information about HP in the Middle East, please visit www.hp.com/me.
Editorial contacts:
Said Dabbagh
+ 971 4 391 6000
said.dabbagh@hp.com
Antony Newton
Hill & Knowlton for HP
+ 971 4 334 4930
antony.newton@hillandknowlton.com
Hewlett‑Packard Middle East
P O Box 17295
Dubai Internet City
Dubai
www.hp.com/me
2004 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
© Press Release 2005
