Antonio Neri (businessman)
Antonio Neri | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 10, 1967 Argentina |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Known for | President and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise |
Antonio Neri (born May 10, 1967) is a businessman of Argentine, Italian, and American heritage, currently holding the positions of president and chief executive officer (CEO) at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). Originating from Argentina, he pursued engineering studies at the National Technological University before embarking on his professional journey with Hewlett-Packard in 1995. In 2018, upon his promotion to president and CEO, Neri also joined HPE's board of directors.
Early life and education
Born on May 10, 1967, in Argentina to Sicilian immigrant parents, Neri showed an early fascination with electronics and technology. At age 15, he began military training as an engineering apprentice within the Argentine Navy, focusing on maintaining radar and sonar equipment aboard naval vessels. Concurrently with his naval service, he attended the Escuela Nacional de Educación Técnica and the National Technological University to study engineering. Beyond his technical pursuits, Neri dedicated nine years to studying art and later taught drawing and painting.
Career
Neri’s professional path began at a small IT firm in Italy before he joined Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 1995, starting in customer service in Amsterdam. Rapid advancement followed: within six months, he became a support engineer, then progressed through roles including education manager, call center manager, and services manager for Europe. In 1997, he relocated to Boise, Idaho, to serve as global director for HP’s imaging and printing services division. By 2004, Neri was overseeing PC services operations in Houston and by 2011 led technology services.
Prior to HP’s division into Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and HP Inc. in 2015, Neri held the role of senior vice president and general manager of HP’s server and networking segments. Following the split, he assumed the position of executive vice president and general manager of HPE’s Enterprise Group, concentrating on marketing strategy, product innovation, and research initiatives. In June 2017, Neri was named HPE’s inaugural president, where he optimized operational processes while also acting as interim chief sales officer. He succeeded Meg Whitman as CEO in February 2018—becoming the first Latino to lead HPE—and simultaneously joined its board of directors.
Neri has been instrumental in advancing technologies such as the Apollo HPC portfolio and Superdome X platform—recognized by CRN as "the world's most scalable in-memory compute platform." He played a key role in acquiring companies like Aruba Networks, Nimble Storage, Silicon Graphics International, and SimpliVity, shaping HPE’s direction after the corporate split. Additionally, Neri contributed to designing the interior of HPE’s headquarters in San Jose.
His "Next Initiative" plan drastically cut HPE’s stock keeping units by 75% and reduced management layers to foster innovation. Emphasizing edge computing as a strategic growth area, he has modernized IT infrastructure while promoting cultural inclusivity and gender diversity within the organization.
Personal life
Throughout his career at HP, Neri lived across Europe and Latin America before settling in the United States. He met his wife while both worked at an HP call center; they married in the late 1990s. The couple has two children and obtained U.S. citizenship in 2012. Currently residing in The Woodlands, TX, Neri enjoys playing recreational soccer. In 2019, he acquired a home in Delray Beach, Florida. Fluent in Dutch, English, Italian, and Spanish, his interests include painting and following football.
External links
External links
- From the Call Center to Executive Leadership: HPE's Neri Discusses Diversity and Latino Leadership by Jennifer Elias (March 26, 2019), Silicon Valley Business Journal