[ TECH BRIEFS ]

Tullman dons toque

Chicago high-tech entrepreneur Howard Tullman was named presidentof Evanston-based Kendall College effective Sunday. Kendall offersone of the most prestigious culinary/hospitality schools in thecountry as well as a school of arts and sciences. Tullman told the i-Street Reporter that he is not pursuing a career as a distinguishedchef anytime soon. "I think the trustees saw the real need for changeand wanted someone with expertise in change management and finance,"he said. He will continue his activities with the Chicago High TechInvestors Fund, which he co-founded. The fund has invested in BlueStar Ventures, KB Partners and New World Ventures. Tullman will alsocontinue to teach a course at Northwestern and serve as chairman ofthe Cobalt Group.

Ha-Lo sues ex-CEO

Ha-Lo Industries Inc., a Niles-based promotional productsdistributor, sued former Chief Executive Officer John R. Kelley Jr.,accusing him of driving the company into Chapter 11 bankruptcythrough mismanagement. The federal court suit alleges that Kelleyurged Ha-Lo's board of directors to approve the acquisition ofStarbelly.com in July 2001. "Kelley effectively gave away Ha-Lo'sassets to Starbelly's pre-acquisition shareholders, employees andcreditors," the suit says. Kelley, who is now CEO of Chicago-basedUpshot, a marketing agency owned by Los Angeles-based EquityMarketing Inc., couldn't be reached for comment.

Intel's Indian venture

The world's largest chipmaker, Intel Corp., said Friday it willinvest about $100 million over three years to expand its chip designand software research in India. The investment will triple the numberof employees at its research and development center in Bangalore,India's technology hub, Intel Chief Executive Craig H. Barrett said.Intel, based in Santa Clara, Calif., currently employs 900 people inIndia.

Server war tied

Amid a dwindling market for computer servers--the powerfulcomputers used to power Web sites and networks--the newly expandedHewlett-Packard Co. pulled even with perennial market leader IBMCorp. for the first time. Both companies claimed almost 28 percent ofthe $10.5 billion market in the second quarter of 2002, according tomarket research firm IDC. The global server market shrunk for thesixth straight quarter, with revenues dropping 16 percent, from $12.6billion in the year-ago quarter. HP's May 2002 acquisition of Compaqallowed it to pull even with IBM--the first time Big Blue has seen amajor challenger for the top position in the server market.

Bloomberg News, AP