Hewlett-Packard Inc has named IT veteran Robert Mao to the newly-created post of chairman of HP China as it seek to boost sales and revenue in the world's biggest personal computer market when global PC shipments are shrinking.

"We are thrilled to have Bob unite our China teams under a common strategic vision," said Meg Whitman, chief executive of HP, in a statement. "The success of our business in China is critical to the future of HP and I am confident that Bob's leadership will energize our efforts and put us on a path toward even greater prosperity."

Mao, who reports directly to Whitman, will be responsible for driving a unified business strategy encompassing all of HP's businesses in China, including the PC and printer business.

HP's business slumped in tandem with the decline in global PC shipments and a challenge from tablet computers and Chinese firm Lenovo, which beat the US giant to become the world's No. 1 PC maker in the quarter ended in June.

Global PC shipments fell in the second quarter for a fifth straight period, sliding 11 percent, market researcher Gartner said in July. Consumers are buying tablets instead of desktops and notebooks while businesses are keeping their PCs longer.

For the fiscal third quarter which ended in July, HP's sales declined 8 percent to US$27.2 billion.