All meaningful advances.

While advances are often made possible by technology, they are made profound by people and their decidedly human aspirations. That’s because virtually all meaningful advances in business, society and life are not achieved through the bold acts of a few, but the everyday acts of many.

Carly Fiorina is a brilliant person. As the chief executive officer, president, and chairman of hp, she transformed it from a relatively narrow company to one that is considerably more diversified. She gave it direction. Navigated a behemoth through the economic downturn that started barely a year into her tenure. And successfully completed one of the largest business mergers in history.

The board of hp stood behind her and proclaimed their support until just weeks ago. The announcement today that Ms. Fiorina is leaving hp was absolutely news.

Forbes points out the good she has done. Had she “never come to this faltering giant, it would be in far worse shape.” And, now, hp “could face a vastly altered future.”

Vastly altered is really an understatement.

Within the next few months, a roadmap of hp’s future will emerge. It will likely move large chunks of the company out, to the great benefit of the institutional HPQ shareholders. The printer business may become independent. The computer and consulting business may be spun off. When all things are said and done, this won’t be hp, and none of this will be done the hp way.

Carly Fiorina came to HP to revitalize and reinvigorate the company. She had a strategic vision and put in place a plan that has given HP the capabilities to compete and win. We thank Carly for her significant leadership over the past six years as we look forward to accelerating execution of the company’s strategy.

That was Patricia Dunn, on behalf of the board of hp. Ms. Dunn is now the very public face of a board of directors that has failed to provide leadership over the last six years. Indeed, that became Ms. Fiorina’s job. The board compelled her to make that a priority, both before and after the Compaq merger. Now, Ms. Dunn will likely preside over the search for a euthanasiast/medical examiner/mortician. Kill hp. Cut it up, sell off the major organs. Take care of the last details.

This is a grim day for hp.

But I think Ms. Fiorina might well rebound quickly. She has friends in the Bush administration. I would be unsurprised to see her as a cabinet secretary anytime soon. And good for her. Trust me when I tell you that the Republicans are, sadly, far smarter people than those who sit on the board of Hewlett-Packard.

So where’s the good news here? This is a bright day for Sun; Ms. Fiorina’s hp was competing strong against the entire product matrix that Scott McNealy has built. She knew where to punch, and exactly how hard. Trust me when I tell you that Bob Wayman, the chief financial officer and now interim chief at hp isn’t nearly as smart. Nor will Ms. Fiorina’s ultimate replacement have her prescience. Unless it is Scott himself (and that ain’t happening). Not even Michael Capellas could manage. (And, Dear Lord, please tell me that ain’t happening, either.)