[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

HP has promoted John Schultz to the position of executive vice president and general counsel, effective immediately. Mr. Schultz, who joined HP in 2008, will be a member of HP’s executive council and report to Meg Whitman, president and chief executive officer, HP.

As general counsel, Mr. Schultz is responsible globally for all legal and compliance functions. His previous role was vice president and deputy general counsel in charge of litigation.

Mr. Schultz will succeed David Healy, who has served as interim general counsel since December 2011. Mr. Healey is partner and co-chair of the Mergers and Acquisition Group at Fenwick & West, a law firm that advises HP. He played an integral role in advising HP on a number of critical business issues.

Prior to joining HP, Mr. Schultz was a partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, a Philadelphia-based law firm. He was also previously employed at the law firms of Drinker Biddle & Reath and Latham & Watkins. He received his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his Bachelor of Science from Albright College.