Michael Dell takes back the reins

Dell founder Michael Dell has been reappointed as chief executive at the ailing computer and server manufacturer. He will remain as chairman of the board. 

Dell replaces Kevin Rollins, who has served as chief executive since July 2004. 

The vendor started to slide under Rollins, and recently lost its position as the world's top computer maker to HP. Dell has been battling declining revenues and profits for several quarters. 

"The board believes that Michael's vision and leadership are critical to building Dell's leadership in the technology industry for the long term," said Samuel Nunn, presiding director of Dell's board.

"There is no better person in the world to run Dell at this time than the man who created the direct model and who has built this company over the past 23 years."

Dell is currently undergoing a reorganisation in an attempt to move away from low-end systems that offer slim product margins.

By contrast, HP has successfully shifted its focus to developing high-end systems and innovative designs that offer high profit margins and clear differentiators.

Dell also has been slow to embrace new technology trends. The company was the last major computer maker to embrace AMD processors, for example.

Michael Dell founded the business as a student in 1984. Dell rose to the top computer maker spot by using an innovative supply chain strategy.

New computers are only constructed after an order has been placed, allowing the firm to minimise supply inventory and yield major cost savings.

The Dell brand became synonymous with low cost industry standard systems during the most recent downturn in the IT sector.

The company's rise was one of the major forces behind HP's acquisition of Compaq in 2001, and forced Sun Microsystems into years of losses during the same period.

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