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HP split 18 months on: We are 'more, better, cooler' says UK MD George Brasher

Full steam ahead for the '£53bn startup'

"We've had more, better, cooler innovations in the last 12 months than we had in any 12-month period I've been at HP," HP UK MD George Brasher has told Computing, 18 months after taking up the first ever post of its kind.

From the HP Spectre, to the Elitebook X360, the mobile phone-desktop hybrid Elite x3 and even the tiny, consumer-grade Sprocket Printer, Brasher believes the new, PC and printer-focused, HP is now pushing out memorable tech, and he loves doing it in the UK.

"We've even innovated around colours for printers," he told us.

"Customers seemed to go crazy for it last year - new students going to uni were picking our Deskjet printers up because they had a different colour scheme, so I'd say to [anyone asking] is colour really a customer need? Yeah it is."

In the UK in particular, Brasher doesn't see a particularly different conversation to on the international level.

"I don't think it's very different to the conversation you're hearing in lots of places, which is; technology is constantly evolving. I've been at HP 26 years, and you have to stay on top of that.

So I'd say security and mobility are big with CIOs right now, another key change in the computing space is form factors.

"In the past you had a laptop and a desktop, and maybe for specialised use you had a standalone workstation. Now you have everything in between - convertibles, detachables, different sizes, use cases. For some mobile devices you have jackets that go round them, unique solutions. Those form factors are morphing. And that's not settling down - I see it continuing to change."

Brasher cites the mobile hybrid Elite x3 as a good example.

"We were first to market with the 3-in-1 concept based on a Snapdragon processor, and we got the set of accessories to go around that. Obviously, I think that's an interesting concept and I'm happy we innovated there," he said.

With news just following our interview that Canonical's attempt to produce the same kind of device with Ubuntu has finally hit the skids, Brasher has perhaps even more reason to be proud.

Brasher says the separation of the old company, which took place in November 2015, has been nothing but "a ton of opportunity" for the PC and printer firm some have dubbed "the £53bn startup".

"We've got a brand new 250 square metre customer welcome centre. It's full every day with either partners bringing their customers, or customers coming in, there's a ton of energy and buzz around the office. And I love technology and it's always evolving and always changing.

"Clearly HPE will talk about their own journey over the last 18 months, but for us it's been the feel of a smaller, more focused company. We're still a FTSE 100, but we're very focused in our markets, and I think our strategy is very consistent. It's about seeing what our customers want and innovating on that."

As an example, Brasher talks about how HP responded to customer demand for more offerings in the A3 paper size space, resulting in the September 2016, billion dollar acquisition of Samsung's entire printer business.

"We've also gone after those hybrid form factors - CIOs say they want a mobile device but it's got to be secure, and I think we brought something different to the market with the x3. It's a beautiful device and the first of its kind.

"It's great being the MD when you go out and talk about products like the x3 and the Sprocket. There's always something new and cool coming out."

To keep up to date with all the latest developments in the world of SMB IT, check out the Computing SMB Spotlight, curated with our friends at HPE.

Computing's IT Leaders Forum 2017 is coming on 24 May 2017.

The theme this year is "Going Digital: Why your most difficult customer is your best friend".

Attendence is free, but strictly limited to IT Leaders. To find out more and to apply for your place, check out the IT Leaders Forum website.

HP split 18 months on: We are 'more, better, cooler' says UK MD George Brasher

Full steam ahead for the '£53bn startup'

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