Former HP/Compaq server guru heads to Nokia

Nokia is the latest company to raid HP's executive ranks, signing up Mary McDowell to head its mobile enterprise business.

McDowell takes on the official role of senior vice president and general manager of enterprise solutions at Nokia. The exec recently left HP where she was SVP of strategy and corporate development. Over the past few months, HP has seen a number of executives jump ship with storage rival EMC picking up the bulk of the defectors.

McDowell is perhaps best known for driving Compaq's successful ProLiant server business. When HP acquired Compaq, it placed the ProLiant systems at the heart of its Intel-based server line. The exec officially left HP earlier this month "to pursue personal and professional interests."

McDowell's enterprise expertise should come in handy at Nokia as the company tries to promote mobile devices as a data platform for big business.

Several HP executives either retired or jumped ship as an early November deadline to cash in on Compaq-related severance packages drew near. EMC has taken on three of the former HP brass. Other rivals including IBM have picked up a couple execs here and there as well.

McDowell's departure from HP is one of the most peculiar to date. She left the company earlier this year for a sabbatical then returned with more responsibilities, overseeing a number of businesses. But apparently the weather in Finland was too tempting to pass up. ®

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