HP loses another senior exec

HP is searching for another high-level executive after the departure of its services chief this week.

Steve Smith, senior vice president and general manager of HP Services, resigned on Wednesday for "personal reasons", according to a company spokeswoman. Smith had led HP Services since July of 2005 and had been with the company since January of that year.

The spokeswoman declined to comment on whether Smith's resignation was related to the company's boardroom scandal, which has seen the departure of several high-profile HP executives, including general counsel Ann Baskins.

Ann Livermore, head of HP's technology solutions group, will serve as acting head of HP Services until a replacement can be found, the spokeswoman said. Services revenue only increased by one per cent in HP's third fiscal quarter compared with last year, although profit increased by more than 40 per cent.

Tom Krazit writes for CNET News.com