Hurd Resigns From H.P. After Sexual Harassment Inquiry

By THE NEW YORK TIMES, August 6, 2010

Hewlett-Packard, the technology company, said Friday that its chief executive Mark Hurd was resigning immediately.

Mark Hurd at a Hewlett-Packard event in March.
(Danny Johnston/Associated Press)

The decision, the board said in a statement, was made following an investigation of sexual harassment against Mr. Hurd and the company by a former contractor.

While the investigation determined there was no violation of H.P.’s sexual harassment policy, it did find violations of the company’s standards of business conduct.

In a statement, the board said that it had appointed the chief financial officer, Cathie Lesjak, 51, to the job on an interim basis.

“After a number of discussions with members of the board, I will move aside and the board will search for new leadership, ,” Mr. Hurd said in the company statement. “This is a painful decision for me to make after five years at H.P., but I believe it would be difficult for me to continue as an effective leader at HP and I believe this is the only decision the board and I could make at this time.”

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