Packard Bell Europe

Product Manager Europe

1995-1996

Designed, localized and implemented all software elements for Packard Bell Europe PC ranges of 1995 & 1996 across 15 countries.

• Joined the newly created PB Marketing Europe 5-people team, based in Angers (France), reporting to the Marketing Director Europe.
• Managed all software elements, including the OS (transition from Microsoft Windows 3.1 to Windows 95), User interface (Packard Bell Navigator), Software bundle and Internet tools.
• Expanded the software bundled with each PC from 6 to over 35 programs without adding to the unit cost ($20), offering games, education, productivity and multimedia tools, reference, etc.
• Segmented the market, tested the products, negotiated license agreements with all software vendors, liaised with Engineering to ensure adequate integration, production and support.
• Managed the localization of Packard Bell Navigator (User interface) for all 15 countries.
• Hired, trained and managed an Assistant.
• Created Packard Bell's first Internet range in 1996, tailored to the consumer PC market (selcted ISPs, wrote a 60-page Internet Guide, introduced Internet tools)

Increased the total face-value of the Software bundled with each Packard Bell machine to $2.000, with star products such as Microsoft Encarta, MS Word, Duke Nukem, "Le Louvre", helping Packard Bell become Europe's first Consumer PC manufacturer in 1996 with 1.3M units sold.