ConsumerIT - For Europe's High Volume PC Retailers, Distributors & Builders

Chinese CE retailer Gome exits Hong Kong retail-- it will close 6 HK stores on February 1 and its flagship Causeway Bay store on March 16, the South China Morning Post reports.

The closures affect around 100 employees.

Following the breaking of the news, the retailer insists the Hong Kong Gome stores "do not form part of the [Gome] Group" and the move does not impact Chinese group operations.

A Gome statement to the South China Morning Post simply describes the move as "a change of direction of business, from retailing to wholesaling or bulk trade. We hope to take advantage of Hong Kong's edge in geographical location and commerce and trade to develop our international procurement business."

In other words it appears that, much like in Europe, the Asian retail business is also going through hard times-- Gome losses during the Q1-Q3 2012 period total $110 million, even if the retailer plans to rebound through a 3-year turnaround strategy.

Established in Beijing in 1987, the Gome Group has around 1070 stores in the Chinese mainland and at its peak had over 10 branches in Hong Kong.

Go Gome Pulls Plug on Electrical Shops

Go Gome Hong Kong Stores Announcement

The EMEA PC market sees 2 consecutive quarters of decline during H2 2012-- Q4 2012 shipments drop by -9.6% Y-o-Y to reach 28.1 million units as the market continues to "face many headwinds."

As a result overall 2012 EMEA PC shipments drop by 2.8% from 2011. W. Europe remains the Achilles heel of the region, while C. and E. Europe and MEA see Q-o-Q growth.

“The holiday season mostly saw retailers clearing Windows 7 notebook inventory or driving volume of low-end notebooks," Gartner remarks. "Furthermore, the increasing choice of tablets at decreasing price points no doubt became a favorite Christmas present ahead of PCs.” In other words Windows 8 had zero impact on the holiday season due to Ultramobile products being both high in price and low in supply.

Apple VP of retail and potential division SVP candidate Jerry McDougal resigns, the company confirms to AllThingsD, as the search for a new head of Apple retail continues.

Replacing McDougal is 15-year Apple veteran and VP of finance Jim Bean.

The company gives no reasons for McDougal's resignation, and unnamed sources only say he wants to "spend more time with his family."

“Retail has an incredibly strong network of leaders at the store and regional level, and they will continue the excellent work they’ve done over the past decade to revolutionize retailing with unique, innovative services and a focus on the customer that is second to none,” an Apple statement says.

In the meantime the company continues searching for a head of retail following the ousting of former Dixons CEO John Browett, the replacement to "Genius Bar" creator Ron Johnson. Browett reportedly issued a number of unpopular orders in order to create a "leaner" Apple retail operation in the name of boosted profits-- only Apple does not want a cadre of unhappy Geniuses messing up its famed retail "experience."

Go Apple Retail VP Jerry McDougal Resigns (AllThingsD)

Go Just 6 Months: Apple Chops Retail Head

AMD files serious allegations against one former VP and three former managers-- the transfer of sensitive AMD documents before joining rival Nvidia and the violation of a "no-solicitation of employees" promise.

Talk about some good old fashioned corporate skulduggery...

The chip maker says former strategic development VP Robert Feldstein, together with ex-managers Manoo Desai and Nicolas Kociuk, copied over 100000 company documents (including "two licensing agreements with significant customers, and a document outlining proposed strategies to AMD's strategic licensing") on external HDDs during the 6 months preceding their departure.

Another ex-manager, Richard Hagen, joins the trio in alleged recruitment of AMD employees.

The most senior of the accused is Feldstein, who was the ATI VP of engineering before its acquisition by AMD. He left the company back in July 2012 after brokering major deals getting AMD hardware in the Xbox 360 and the Wii U.

Reportedly such deals are the reason Nvidia hired him, after a company statement said Feldstein will "help [Nvidia] think through current and possible future technology licensing projects."

AMD says after forensic analysis of the former employees' PCs it has evidence “Desai and Kociuk conspired with each other to misappropriate AMD's confidential, proprietary, and/or trade secret information; and/or to intentionally access AMD's protected computers, without authorization and/or in a way that exceeded their authorized access.”

The company demands injunctive relief to recover the files, as well as a restraining order demanding the four employees retain all AMD property and computers in their possession for further forensic examination.

Go AMD Lawsuit