Exclusive: HP CMO Replaced by SAP Exec

Hewlett-Packard is kicking off the new year with a bit of an executive shake-up: Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Michael Mendenhall is leaving the company.

It’s not yet clear why, and there are conflicting narratives developing around his as-of-yet unannounced departure. Some sources close to HP tell me he’s simply hopping trains and heading off to a new opportunity. But others claim he’s been replaced by an SAP executive recruited by CEO and former SAP chief Léo Apotheker.

Interestingly, SAP tells me that Bill Wohl, vice president of Global Field Communications and head of Integrated Communications for Co-CEO Bill McDermott, is leaving the company….

Reached for comment, HP declined to give one.

UPDATE: Sure enough, Wohl is indeed headed to HP, where he’ll serve as chief communications officer, reporting to Apotheker. Still no comment from the parties.