HP on Thursday announced that Shane Robison, Chief Strategy Officer at the company, would be stepping down from his position on November 1. Robison's departure comes after 11 years of service at HP and right after the company appointed new CEO Meg Whitman. Robison's role was to shape HP’s corporate strategy and technology agenda. He was instrumental in steering the company’s multibillion-dollar research and development investment and has led many of the company’s largest merger and acquisition activities. He also served as a member of the company’s Executive Council.
"Shane has been a powerful innovator for our business groups and other corporate divisions," Whitman said of Robison. "His passion for research and development has ensured that innovation continues at HP."
Robison's decision comes at a critical time for HP. It's aforementioned CEO has only been in the saddle for a few weeks and the company is expected to make a decision regarding its Personal Systems Group any day now. What's more, Barron's reports that Robison had recently had WebOS added to his list of responsiblities. Apparently, when HP announced that it was shelving its tablet efforts, former CEO Leo Apotheker handed WebOS over to Robison to look after. HP said in a statement that it is not seeking a replacement for Shane:
" [...] in an effort to drive strategy, research and development closer to the company’s businesses, [HP] will not be replacing the role of chief strategy and technology officer."
