I am listening to Mark Hurd’s statement to the press this afternoon. It’s disappointing that so many people have been tainted by such a terrible display of foolishness. You may recall that I believed very strongly in the leadership of Carly Fiorina. I respect Patricia Dunn and Mr. Hurd, although Ms. Dunn may have orchestrated Ms. Fiorina’s ouster, and although Mr. Hurd has enjoyed the straight stretch of the road Ms. Fiorina set HP on several years ago. Ms. Dunn is appropriately resigning, effective immediately, and Mr. Hurd should join her.
Why? He says he knows the internal memorandums were sent to him, but he says that he didn’t read them. It’s hard to imagine that he didn’t read those memos, but if he truly didn’t, he had a responsibility, and an accountability, to make sure the investigation was progressing, and progressing appropriately. He didn’t.
It is especially unusual that Mr. Hurd has now assumed the chairmanship, as well.
At the end of the day, directors and officers of America’s businesses and organizations must adhere to high standards, and they must take responsibility when they fall short of those standards.
on Jul 2nd, 2008 at 02:18
[...] himself, in what was one of the more unusual corporate governance ironies in recent memory… I wrote at that time: Mr. Hurd should [resign]. Why? He says he knows the internal memorandums were sent to him, but he [...]