Local partner confirms revamp at Sun unit
Regional bosses come in to head Hong Kong operation
A close partner of Sun Microsystems has confirmed a sweeping management revamp at the United States computer maker's local office, where three top executives appear to have been suspended indefinitely and replaced by senior regional bosses.
Lai Yam-ting, managing director at Hong Kong-listed technology services provider and long-time Sun server distributor, Automated Systems Holdings Limited (ASL), said he met with Sun's new Hong Kong management team last month.
The meeting was held a few days before a South China Morning Post report on February 17 on the top-level revamp, which sources said followed an internal inquiry into possible accounting irregularities at Sun's local office.
Simon Leung, partner sales director for global sales operation at Sun Greater China, has taken over duties at the firm's Hong Kong office from managing director Danny Tam.
The firm's Greater China chief technology officer for client solutions, KC Fung, has replaced enterprise sales director Raymond Ho.
Greater China sales directors Eric Chiang and Tony Lim will share duties left by Sun Hong Kong channel sales director Lee Man-ho. Mr Lai said Mr Tam made a brief, albeit silent, appearance at the meeting, accompanied by Daniel Yu, president of global sales operation at Sun Greater China.
Sun executives did not offer an explanation for the management shake-up, he said. A spokesperson for Sun's Hong Kong office reiterated the company's position that Mr Tam and the two other top local Sun executives were on holiday.
Mr Yu and Paul Li, Greater China marketing director, declined an interview.
'Based on our conversation at the meeting, the new management in place at Sun Hong Kong is temporary because the executives all have very demanding, regional roles,' Mr Lai said. 'The senior management positions in Hong Kong could be filled in or before June this year.'
A recent survey conducted by research firm Gartner this month found that Sun server computer revenues in Hong Kong last year grew 36.7 per cent. Its local market share also reached 13.8 per cent last year from 11 per cent in 2003.
