8) Sex-harassment claims sink Hurd

8) Sex-harassment claims sink Hurd

Mark Hurd's glittering five-year tenure as HP CEO imploded in August after Jodie Fisher (right), a former HP contract worker, claimed Hurd sexually harassed her. HP's board investigated and said it could find no proof Fisher's allegations were true. And then, abruptly, the board switched gears and fired Hurd for falsifying expense reports.

Hurd negotiated a settlement with Fisher, a former soft-core porn actress, before directors could interview her. According to The Wall Street Journal, some on the board believed Hurd's settlement was an attempt to prevent them from "learning the truth."

Hurd did OK though. He landed at Oracle and the HP board was criticized for firing a successful CEO. New info emerged last week that suggests Hurd may have leaked HP's plans to buy EDS months before the deal was completed.