HP picks Agilent as name for spinoff

Hewlett-Packard’s healthcare operations entered a new era last week with the launch of Agilent Technologies, HP’s new $8 billion technology spin-off. HP’s medical products group, along with four other businesses, were spun off by Palo Alto, CA-based HP in a move to focus on its core computer business (SCAN 3/17/99).

In healthcare, the HP name will be continued through this year’s RSNA meeting, and will transition over time to the Agilent brand, according to David Kolstad, worldwide marketing manager for imaging systems. The spin-off will provide HP customers with a heightened level of speed and focus, as the healthcare solutions group will represent a much larger portion of Agilent than it did of HP, Kolstad said. Cynthia Danaher will maintain her role in the move from HP and continue to head up Agilent’s healthcare solutions group.

As it takes on a new identity, the Andover, MA-based unit will face the challenge of maintaining the customer loyalty and market momentum enjoyed by HP. The company earlier this year claimed to be the largest ultrasound vendor in the world, based on 1998 equipment sales and service revenues (SCAN 6/9/99). The claim was based on an independent report published by New York City research firm Klein Biomedical Consultants, which ranked HP as the number-one medical diagnostic ultrasound provider worldwide in 1998, exceeding $500 million in revenues. HP overtook Toshiba, which had historically been the market leader.