Compaq have recently appointed a UK Director whose aim is to raise the profile of Compaq in the computing world from that of mainly a provider of hardware solutions to that of an Internet company. Robert Fedder has taken the post as UK Director of Strategy and Marketing, he originally came from KPMG Consulting.

An announcement is expected either later this month or early October, however, these announcements have a habit of being held back owing to Compaq's continuing inability to reveal plans about the CIA launch.

Fedder will be working on strategies and top-line marketing issues to ensure that Compaq will be in a position to set up joint ventures and new opportunities, as this will be one of Compaq's strategies to become an Internet-focussed organisation.