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HP CEO Resigns During Sexual Harassment Investigation

Posted by kdawson on from the sure-can-pick-'em dept.

A number of readers are letting us know that HP CEO Mark Hurd just resigned over sexual harassment accusations. The company's board has appointed CFO Cathie Lesjak as interim CEO. A contractor had accused Hurd of sexual harassment, and the board brought in outside counsel to investigate. While the harassment claim could not be substantiated, the investigation did uncover other misconduct. Hurd's "close personal relationship" with the contractor created a conflict of interest, and he was also found to have misused company assets. In a statement, Hurd said, "As the investigation progressed, I realized there were instances in which I did not live up to the standards and principles of trust, respect and integrity that I have espoused at HP and which have guided me throughout my career."

11 of 233 comments (clear)

  1. "realized"? by Lost+Race · · Score: 5, Insightful

    He "realized there were instances" of misconduct on his part? More like he realized he'd been caught.

    1. Re:"realized"? by jd · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That, and the rest of the board probably deciding that they had to get rid of him to avoid exposing any of them to investigations.

      --
      It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
    2. Re:"realized"? by suomynonAyletamitlU · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm going to play devil's advocate, keep in mind it may not work.

      I find when I look at people who are given a lot of power don't tend to view "misuses" of power the same way as people do when looking at it from the outside. A lot of different kinds of corruption can be born from, "What's the harm?" and it can be very easy to run away from the consequences and by doing so, lie to themselves.

      In cases like that, when you are forced and/or given an excuse to stop lying to yourself, you actually learn a lot about yourself and your behavior that you may not have known, but which you should have. It's actually rather easy to 'misfile' things in your head such that you actually do know them, but they're not properly weighted or not connected to other facts, for (a made up) example, "I hired my cousin in place of a qualified applicant, as a favor." Okay, you hired your cousin--did you check to see that he was doing a good job? Did the company suffer because you didn't look into his behavior? Did the company actually need that qualified applicant? Was the qualified applicant already working there (internal promotion) and have they gotten the shit end of the stick because of it? Was the qualified applicant, perchance, someone you actually knew and respected and who hasn't talked to you since?

      Once you stop hiding from your own closet and its skeletons, you may in fact get hit by the realization that you aren't nearly as clean as you thought you were. That's all I'm saying.

  2. Re:Wasn't he the CEO during the pretexting scandal by dan828 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    More like, at some point in the investigation he realized that he was busted and couldn't cover up or plausibly deny things. He was probably feeling pretty untouchable up to that point after coming out unscathed from the other little upset they had a while back.

  3. Crap floats. by Spazntwich · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Anyone else's skin crawl as they read the rehearsed and empty words? Reeks of a sociopath saying what he thinks folks want to hear to let him off the hook. Funny how many seem to make it to the top.

    1. Re:Crap floats. by bertoelcon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Anyone else's skin crawl as they read the rehearsed and empty words? Reeks of a sociopath saying what he thinks folks want to hear to let him off the hook. Funny how many seem to make it to the top.

      Only the sociopaths want the power so only the sociopaths get the power.

      --
      Anything can be found funny, from a certain point of view.
    2. Re:Crap floats. by jd · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Criminal psychologst calls CEOs psychopaths
      Sociologist/Criminologist calls CEOs sociopaths

      Take your pick. Or maybe they're both. It would explain a lot.

      --
      It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
    3. Re:Crap floats. by Hatta · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I follow the news. I'm pretty immune at this point to rehearsed and empty words from sociopaths.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  4. In Las Vegas by Lead+Butthead · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In Las Vegas, that type of contractor is called an "escort."

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    ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI!?
  5. Re:Resigned? Yeah right! He got his ass fired! by Kingrames · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Wow, a 53 million dollar reward for sexual harassment, theft, and other misconduct to horrifying to speak aloud. Friends we are in the wrong goddamn industry.

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    If you can read this, I forgot to post anonymously.
  6. Re:Resigned? Yeah right! He got his ass fired! by timeOday · · Score: 5, Insightful

    $50e6 probably sounds very reasonable when you're accustomed to making $30e6 every year. It's funny, how small must have his fraudulent expenses been, compared to being paid over $100K every single work day. He probably feels like he just got fired for going home with an HP ballpoint pen in his pocket.