A year in the life of HP: How the UK&I MD is balancing perfection and speed—and putting people first

As businesses navigate rapid technological change and shifting workplace expectations, local-level leadership is increasingly shaping how global strategies land. Over the past few months, Fortune has been speaking with senior leaders across HP to better understand how the company is evolving—across innovation to culture, customer engagement, and the future of work. 

In this latest installment of our year-in-the-life series, Ruth Patterson, VP and managing director for HP in the U.K. and Ireland, discusses her priorities for 2026, the importance of balancing speed and perfection, and how she’s keeping people and outcomes central to her strategy. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Priorities: What’s your big focus for 2026? 

My year so far has been focused on two areas. First, working closely with our channel partners and our customers to lead our strategic focus areas. I always say their success is our success, so it’s about delivering the right support and solutions and advancing our future of work strategy. A key part of this is elevating the employee experience in the workplace, particularly in the U.K. and Ireland.

On the other side, my priority as a leader at HP is our people. This involves setting a clear vision and priorities, and ensuring our employees feel energized and have the........

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