MOVES-Compal names ex-Dell exec as vice-chairman
TAIPEI, June 16 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Compal Electronics (2324.TW), the world's second-largest contract laptop PC maker, has named ex-Dell Inc (DELL.O) executive John Medica as vice-chairman.
"Mr Medica will focus his efforts on advancing strategic business planning, technology product road mapping and value chain partnerships," Compal's Chief Financial Officer Gary Lu said in a statement seen by Reuters on Monday.
Compal said Medica, a veteran in the PC industry, would work closely with Compal Chairman Rock Hsu and Chief Executive Officer Ray Chen.
Medica, 49, retired as senior vice-president and co-leader of Dell's Product Group in April 2007 after 14 years with the U.S. firm. Prior to his role at Dell, he had worked at Apple (AAPL.O) for 10 years, Compal said.
Shares of Compal had jumped 4.52 percent by 0239 GMT, outperforming the benchmark TAIEX index's 1.06 percent rise and sector leader Quanta Computer Inc's (2382.TW) 3.55 percent gain.
A supplier to computer giants such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ.N), and Apple, Compal competes with Quanta. Together, Compal and Quanta make around 60 percent of the world's notebook computers.
Compal said this month that it expects shipments in the third quarter to rise 20 percent from a year ago as demand for notebooks remains healthy.
The firm also estimated it would ship 32 million notebook units this year, up from around 22 million units in 2007. (US$1=T$30.5) (Reporting by Sheena Lee; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree)
