Dell (DELL) said Friday that Ross Perot Jr., former chairman of the board for Perot Systems, has been appointed to Dell’s board of directors.
Dell acquired Perot Systems on Nov. 3, and plans to integrate it into a new business called Dell Services that will help corporate clients lower their IT costs. Home computer giant Dell has been moving into the consulting business and stepping up its efforts to compete with IBM in that lucrative sector.
Perot will join Dell’s board immediately and then stand for election by shareholders at Dell’s annual meeting in 2010, according to a statement released by the company.
Perot served as president and chief executive officer of Perot Systems from August 2000 until the company was acquired by Dell last month. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and served more than eight years in the U.S. Air Force.
Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported Dell will reorganize its business groups in order to make a bigger push into mobile devices.
A company spokesman said the rejiggering will create a new communications division to develop products such as mobile phones and other portable devices.
The Journal reported that the new division will be headed by Ron Garriques, president of Dell's consumer division. Before joining Dell, Garriques worked at mobile-phone maker Motorola Inc. (MOT).
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