"(Carly) executed the merger with Compaq in superior fashion. But looking forward, we think we'll (need a CEO with) hands-on execution."
-- Patricia Dunn, HP board member, Feb. 9, 2005
"I know she's been under a certain amount of criticism, but (this) is somewhat unexpected. I believed her when she said she had an excellent relationship with the board."
-- Walter Hewlett, former HP director and son of company co-founder, Feb. 9
"The question is whether HP needs new direction, or just a new driver. We think it needs a new direction."
-- Douglas Hayward, analyst, Ovum, Feb. 9
"While the board did discuss structural changes at its recent meeting, there are no other senior changes due in the near future."
-- Robert Sherbin, spokesman, HP, Jan. 24
"We know that we're at a point where we have the right products to compete in the right markets."
-- Carly Fiorina, Dec. 7, 2004
"I think the dot-com boom and bust represented the end of the beginning. The industry is more mature today."
-- Fiorina, Sept. 23, 2004
"This (merger with Compaq) is a decisive move that accelerates our strategy and positions us to win by offering even greater value to our customers and partners."
-- Fiorina, Sept. 3, 2001
Day of infamy
For many employees and investors, the day HP acquired Compaq was a disaster.
May 3, 2002
Carly Fiorina departs as Hewlett-Packard's CEO and chairman, opening the door for a new leader to guide the tech giant as it confronts stubborn market realities.
Who will lead HP now? Experts offer their picks
A former HP executive, a few current ones, and the top dog at a rival PC maker top an informal list.
February 9, 2005
Fiorina's fuzzy vision
perspectives CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos says Fiorina had a vision. It just changed every few months.February 9, 2005
Keeping HP customers happy
news.commentary With Fiorina gone, customers should stay the course--for now. But the next CEO still must prove that bigger is better.February 10, 2005
News.com Poll
Fiorina steps down at HP
Carly Fiorina ends reign as CEO and chairman. CFO Robert Wayman takes over as interim chief executive.
Images from Fiorina's reign
February 9, 2005
Women's advocates regret ouster
Some in the computing world say HP's departing chief helped inspire women, who nonetheless have been abandoning computer careers.February 9, 2005
Does HP need a new course?
news analysis Now that Fiorina has been ousted, some analysts say HP not only needs new leadership--it needs a whole new direction.February 9, 2005
Memo: HP after Fiorina
Acting CEO Robert Wayman says Carly Fiorina revitalized the company, puts focus on improving performance.February 9, 2005
Are sharks circling HP?
Competitors will try to use uncertainty to win customers from HP, analysts predict. It's not yet clear whether they will succeed.February 9, 2005
Was Carly's tenure a boon or bust?
the buzz Readers weigh in on whether Fiorina's high-profile reign at HP was a success or failure.February 9, 2005
Consumers, investors respond to Fiorina ouster
Web reaction A sampling of posts from various blogs and message boards.February 9, 2005
Fiorina's tenure in quotes
"She's done a great job. They've had perfect execution," one analyst said of Fiorina and HP back in 2000. What happened?February 9, 2005
Perkins rejoins board as Litvack resigns
Sanford Litvack bows out from Hewlett-Packard's board, and venture capitalist Thomas Perkins re-ups for another stint.February 8, 2005
Opening doors for women in computing
Debate continues over Harvard chief's comments, as reformers work to balance mostly male IT staffs.
February 7, 2005
We're not changing Fiorina's job, HP says
Tech giant says talk of management shakeup--beyond last week's PC-printer shift--is unfounded.January 24, 2005
Hewlett-Packard's PC dreams
newsmaker Vyomesh Joshi, leader of HP's printer unit, talks about the latest addition to his responsibilities--the PC business.January 14, 2005
Dell expands lead in still-growing PC market
The PC market, long declared dead by some, grew in double-digit figures again in 2004. As Dell expands lead, HP slips.
January 18, 2005
Reorganization merges printer, PC units
Union of the two groups is designed to help get products to market more quickly, Hewlett-Packard says.January 14, 2005
HP unveils plans for digital home invasion
Strategy hinges on new HDTV media "hub," an expanded line of flat-panel TVs and a leap into new video copy-protection technology.January 14, 2005
Fiorina: 'We've completed the transition'
HP's board discussed breaking up the company three times in the past, yet each time decided to keep it intact, CEO reveals.December 7, 2004
A fight to the finish
special coverage Investors get the final say in the HP-Compaq merger battle.May 3, 2002
As new CEO, Fiorina to bring 'urgency and speed'
Hewlett-Packard's new chief executive faces a tough job at her new employer: bringing the vigor of a start-up to a Silicon Valley giant.July 19, 1999
Manager: <insert your name here>, I'm afraid that we've been looking at your performance here at <insert your company here> over the last 6 years and you're just not pulling your weight relative to our expectations and what we're paying you.
You: Really? I'm sorry to hear that you feel that way.
Manager: Yes, we're sorry too, but we think we're going to have to let you go.
You: Well, I think that a fair parting gift would be 10 times my 2003 salary.
Manager: Hmm, we were thinking more like a number of 6 times your 2003 salary.
You: Okay, somehow I'll get by on that.
Sounds unbelievable, right? Yet this routinely happens with CEOs of large companies, and the above example is probably fairly close to what just happened with Carly at HP.
So, Carly merges two companies, lays off over 17,000 employees, shows now value, and gets booted with a reported severance of $21.1 million (her 2003 compensation was valued at $3.5 million).
...and somehow this is not a crime.
- brand tarnished?
- by sunnymix February 17, 2005 8:40 PM PST
- it is a known and recognized fact that HP branding has been one of the most successful jobs she has done in HP. not a lot of people even knew what HP was about before fiorina came on board. for that kind of publicity, shouldn't she been credited?
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