Larry Ellison: Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) Was Wrong to Oust Hurd

In a scathing letter to the New York Times, Oracle Corp. (ORCL) Chief Executive Officer Larry Ellison said Hewlett-Packard Co.’s (HPQ) board was wrong to force the resignation of CEO Mark Hurd.

“The HP board just made the worst personnel decision since the idiots on the Apple (AAPL) board fired Steve Jobs many years ago.” Ellison said in the letter.

Hurd stepped down as HP CEO Friday after an internal investigation found he falsified documents to conceal a relationship with former HP contractor Jodie Fisher, who did marketing work for the company, and help her get paid for work she didn’t do.

But investigators said Hurd was not guilty of sexual harassment, as alleged by Fisher, who settled her claim out of court. HP learned about the relationship several weeks ago, when Fisher sent a letter accusing Hurd, 53, and the company of sexual harassment.

“The HP board admits that it fully investigated the sexual harassment claims against Mark and found them to be utterly false,” Ellison said in the letter. According to Ellison, the board was split 6-to-4 over whether to go public with the sexual-harassment claim. “In losing Mark Hurd, the HP board failed to act in the best interest of HP’s employees, shareholders, customers and partners,” wrote Ellison.

Ellison called Hurd a close friend and said he was deeply offended by what just happened to him.

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3 Comments on Larry Ellison: Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) Was Wrong to Oust Hurd

  1. Thanks a million Larry Ellison, for speaking out. Mark Hurd was a great leader.____Hey Larry, Thanks a lot for all your charitable contributions. You are a great guy. ____Thanks Larry. ____Take care and Best Wishes.

  2. Well it is a personal opinion of Larry Ellison that ouster of Mark Hurd was wrong, but a CEO of a large global corporation has to be a person of integrity both in personal and professional life. Surely Mark Hurd has failed in this front. And it is good that he has been shown the door. Also a culture of sexual favors has become widespread at HP. This has to come to stop or the downfall is imminent. Though there has been no 'sexual harassment' in this case as investigated by the board, spending on a woman contractor in a fraudulent manner leaves little doubt as to what favors have been provided by the lady here. Seems like Mark Hurd was just a "friend with benefits" of this lady & vice versa.

    Talking about a culture of sex and inappropriate behavior, a manager and his subordinate was caught having sex in conference room table at one of HP India's offices by the security guards. In addition, promotions and pay hikes are provided to people who accede to sexual requests.

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