Fujitsu Services chief executive steps down

David Courtley jumps ship after four-and-a-half years at services giant

Fujitsu Services will be looking for a new chief executive

The UK chief executive at Fujitsu Services, David Courtley, has resignedafter four-and-a-half years at the IT and communications group with immediate effect.

Courtley joined the firm as chief operating officer in July 2001 and was subsequently promoted to chief executive in April 2004, replacing Richard Christou who moved to the role of chairman. Christou will take the vacancy left by Courtley until a replacement is found.

According to a spokesman at his former employer, Courtley’s departure was prompted by personal reasons and a need to move on after having made a “huge contribution” to the company, which included contract wins such as the former Inland Revenue and the NHS.

“David spent over four years at Fujitsu and has done a huge amount for the company and after doing that he felt it was time to move on, as people do,” said the spokesman.

“But I do not think that he is jumping ship to go to a competitor immediately. He will probably be weighing his options before taking on another role.”

Fujitsu's involvement in the £12.7bn NHS National Programme for IT came to an end earlier this year after a contract dispute led to the supplier being removed from its role as prime contractor for the southern region of the project.