Dell has poached a longtime Compaq/HP PC executive in a bid to boost its notebook and consumer electronics divisions.

Alex Gruzen resigned from HP on Monday, leaving his post as SVP of the mobile computing global business unit. In Round Rock, he will head up Dell's strong notebook business and oversee Dell's fledgling effort in the consumer electronics market where it sells TVs and MP3 players among other things. Gruzen had served HP and Compaq for a total of eight years.

HP spokespeople were quoted in numerous publications saying the company "had taken steps to protect our confidential information." While it's unclear what this means, it can be assumed that Gruzen's mind has been erased of all iPod rebadging techniques and the location of HP's Asian design teams, expect in those cases where the design teams also work for Dell.

Shortly after word of Gruzen's departure broke, HP said that it has hired T. Scott Edwards to be SVP of consumer marketing. Edwards previously worked as an EVP at Gateway but left after it purchased eMachines. ®

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