BenQ poaches Harvey's Schnell

Consumer electronics company BenQ Australia has poached Paul Schnell, the former head of Harvey Norman's $400 million PC, notebook and LCD business unit.

With 10 years experience in the reseller and retail channels, Schnell joins BenQ as a senior product manager. He is charged with directing BenQ's product distribution and marketing strategy.

Schnell has been with Harvey Norman for four and a half years. Prior to this he was with competing retailer The Strathfield Group.

Schnell told CRN he needed a new challenge and had no desire to run a Harvey Norman retail store, which would have been his next step.

"[Franchise ownership] was the only real place to go. [But] I love being at the backend, dealing with the big numbers," he said.

It was the first time Schnell would be working for an IT manufacturer. "It's a good challenge - BenQ is exploding and will continue to do so," he said, adding that within the next few years, it would be a force to be reckoned with against the likes of Samsung and Sony.

BenQ product managers Louise Byrom, Kitty Liao and Adam Baker would be working under Schnell.