RESUME
Name: Dan Salzman.
Company: Hewlett-Packard.
Title: Vice president, Customer and Market Insights, Imaging & Printing Group.
Revenue – 2010: $126 billion (HP overall).
No. of employees: Approximately 324,600 (overall).
Year founded: 1939.
Education: Ph.D. in social psychology, Lehigh University, 1993.
Birthplace: Lancaster, Penn.
Age: 43.
Current residence: Valley Center.
Family: Wife, Betsy; and four children.
Dan Salzman is vice president of Customer and Market Insights for Hewlett-Packard’s Imaging and Printing Group. HP has been a worldwide market leader in printing since introducing its first printers in 1984; today, its product, services and solution offerings span personal and commercial printing, digital photography and managed services.
BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY
Essential business philosophy: Take action. Moving forward and executing well with 80 percent certainty is better than inaction.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: I maintain an informal network of peers/business leaders who work in my role, so I can ensure I’m on top of trends and what my peers are doing in the industry.
Guiding principles: Operate with integrity, transparency and honesty. Make sure employees know where they stand. Make sure you get something done every day.
Yardsticks of success: I work hard to tease out my team’s contributions to the overall success of the business. I need to be able to see how my team is making an impact on the big picture.
Goals yet to be achieved: Have P&L responsibility for a global business.
JUDGMENT CALLS
Best business decision: Changing industries from packaged goods to technology. The shift expanded my point of view on business in general and what it takes to be successful.
Worst business decision: Not moving fast enough on personnel-related decisions. You need to do the right thing quickly so the business and employees both win.
Toughest business decision: Taking a job that involved moving my family from the East Coast to the West Coast.
Biggest missed opportunity: Declining the opportunity early in my career to take a job in Europe that would have given me direct international experience earlier than I did otherwise.
Mentor: Peter Valenti, former co-worker, general manager, Bausch and Lomb.
Word that describes you: Focused.
TRUE CONFESSIONS
What you like best about your job: Working with smart and motivated people.
What you like least about your job: HP is a large company, and my team members are based in various locations, so it can be challenging to make sure I am providing the support my team needs from day to day.
Pet peeves: Passive aggressive behavior.
Most important lesson learned: Great employees make all the difference. It’s not worth it to settle for someone who isn’t a great fit just to fill a position.
Person most interested in meeting: Frank Stella, contemporary artist. He created a whole new style of three-dimensional art that demonstrates tremendous creativity and passion.
Three greatest passions: My family’s happiness, competition and travel that expands one’s perspective.
First choice for a new career: Starting my own business.
PREDILECTIONS
Favorite quote: “Things are never as good as they seem or as bad as they seem.” — Mark Twain.
Most influential book: “The Education of Little Tree” by Forrest (Asa) Carter.
Favorite status symbol: Successful children.
Favorite restaurant: In-N-Out Burger.
Favorite place for business meetings: Anywhere but the office.
Favorite vacation spot: The Pacific Northwest.
Favorite way to spend time: Playing competitive sports with my kids.
