Origin BV, the company formed when Philips Electronics NV upped its 41% stake in BSO/Origin BV to 83% and merged in its Communications & Processing unit (CI No 2,821), has just poached the two top executives of Electronic Data Systems Europe to be its chief executive and chief operating officer. Henk Cohen steps down as chief executive and will remain on the board to guide the transition. Dr Geoffrey Carroll and Thomas Butler start immediately from a new base in Belgium, with a brief to grow Origin’s business both in Europe and worldwide. Carroll claims EDS Europe accounts for some 23% of total company turnover, and reckons he and Butler between them brought in more than $8,000m of European business. He intends to exploit Origin’s Philips connection, which he says is its most under-utilized asset, at present.
