Siemens lawyer powers up for Fujitsu

Fujitsu Siemens Computers BV is making Siemens information and communications products division lawyer Dr Heinz Tietze its new general counsel.

The newly-created role was turned down by David Hyams, vice-president of legal and commercial affairs at Fujitsu Computers (Europe), who recently left the company after Fujitsu and Siemens AG formed the joint venture, Fujitsu Siemens Computers BV in October.

Tietze will report to Adrian Von Hammerstein, chief financial officer of the joint venture, and will form part of the senior management team. Fujitsu Computers (Europe) now has five lawyers but it is understood lawyers from Siemens AG will transfer to the joint venture, based in Amsterdam.

It is not clear what will happen to the firms who Fujitsu Computers (Europe) employs for external advice.

Its preferred firms include Clifford Chance, Ashurst Morris Crisp, Baker & McKenzie, Wilde Sapte, Herbert Smith and Pitmans.

The new venture contains 9,000 employees with European manufacturing facilities in 25 European countries.