apotheker

HP coughs up close to $47 million on CEO change

For Hewlett-Packard, fiscal 2011 was the year of two CEOs--Leo Apotheker and Meg Whitman--and it cost the company dearly.

In its proxy statement filed today, HP outlined the compensation packages for its relatively new CEO and the parting gift for Apotheker.

The damage? Whitman took a salary of $1 for fiscal 2011 and option awards worth $16.15 million. Toss in other competition and the grand total comes to $16.52 million rounded. And then there's Apotheker, who wrestled with strategy, communications, and a decision on whether to spin off HP's PC unit. Simply put, the Apotheker reign … Read more

HP back in the PC game. Now what?

Hewlett Packard reaffirmed its commitment to the computer business yesterday, bringing to a close three months of dramatic upheaval.

Since August, when HP and then-CEO Leo Apotheker outlined a plan to "explore strategic alternatives" for its Personal Systems Group, HP shaved roughly 20 percent off the price of its stock, damaged its supplier relationships, bewildered consumers and analysts, and, ultimately, ousted Apotheker and replaced him with former eBay CEO Meg Whitman.… Read more

HP CEO change spurred by Oracle worries, report says

There might have been more than meets the eye to the decision by Hewlett-Packard's board of directors to oust Leo Apotheker as CEO, according to a new report.

Bloomberg is reporting, citing multiple sources, that the board replaced Apotheker with former eBay CEO Meg Whitman at least in part to prevent its stock price from falling to a point where it would face an unsolicited buyout offer from Oracle. However, according to other Bloomberg sources close to Oracle, that company did not have any immediate plans to acquire HP, even though the idea was under consideration.

HP's stock … Read more

Meg Whitman takes over at HP (roundup)

Leo Apotheker is ousted after less than a year at the helm. But are Hewlett-Packard's problems too deep and too tangled for anyone to fix?

HP's top challenge vs. rivals: Continuity Continuity wouldn't be such a big deal for Hewlett-Packard if it didn't have to compete with IBM and Oracle daily. • No quick fixes at HP, say analysts (Posted in Between the Lines by Larry Dignan) September 23, 2011 7:01 a.m. PT

Apotheker bids farewell; did he see it coming? Former HP CEO Leo Apotheker exits gracefully, saying Meg Whitman and her executive … Read more

Apotheker bids farewell; did he see it coming?

Former HP CEO Leo Apotheker had the chance to say good-bye to employees yesterday after the company announced his ouster, but questions remain over whether or not he knew he was being replaced.

In a memo sent to employees and seen by CNET, Apotheker expressed "admiration" for HP employees, adding that with their help, they were collectively able to make "important contributions to the company's future."

"Your efforts on behalf of HP and your dedication to our customers have inspired me--and I am confident that HP has a bright future because of the talented … Read more

HP's Ray Lane on why Leo Apotheker had to go

HP Executive Chairman Ray Lane said the board had to make a leadership change because the company habitually missed financial targets, botched communications, lost credibility with Wall Street, and couldn't rally HP's 320,000 employees.

While much of HP's conference call today to introduce Meg Whitman as CEO revolved around her capabilities, a lot of Lane's time was spent explaining why former CEO Leo Apotheker had to go. Lane went through a series of explanations. Here's a look at why Lane and the board arrived at the Apotheker decision.

Apotheker couldn't run a large company. Lane said:… Read more

In Whitman, HP gets a CEO used to the spotlight

Meg Whitman's ascendency to CEO at Hewlett-Packard may be surprising, but this onetime eBay chief executive and California gubernatorial candidate is hardly unaccustomed to the limelight.

From building eBay up from a dot-com startup to an established Internet company, to her recent failed run to become California's governor, Whitman has proven herself as someone willing to take bold action, even if it doesn't always pay off. Having lived under the microscope of both Wall Street investors and the political media, she won't easily be deterred.

That's a good thing, because after a string of disastrous … Read more

Meg Whitman to get HP job after the bell, report says

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman will take over as Hewlett-Packard's chief executive when the market closes later today, AllThingsD is reporting, citing anonymous sources.

According to AllThingsD, Whitman's appointment has not yet been voted on by the board, but that is expected to happen later today. If all goes well, HP's current CEO Leo Apotheker will be out, and Whitman will be in as CEO in a permanent capacity. Yesterday, reports suggested Whitman would serve as HP's CEO on an interim basis.

AllThingsD and Bloomberg separately reported yesterday, citing anonymous sources, that HP was considering removing Apotheker as CEO … Read more

Would Meg Whitman be up to running HP?

Meg Whitman is allegedly a top pick to be Hewlett-Packard's next CEO, but the to-do list is massive and it's unclear whether swapping leaders will make that much of a difference.

The larger questions revolve around whether HP has a board of directors problem, a leadership issue, or a questionable master plan, assuming it still has one. Perhaps it's all of the above.

The to-do list for Whitman would go like this:

1. Decide what to do with the PC business. Should it stay or go?

2. Determine if HP's software strategy is correct and figure … Read more