Even as a reeling HP installs a presumably temp CEO to steer it out of the choppy waters caused by the resignation of its former leader Mark Hurd, colourful IT leader Larry Ellison has weighed in and accused the blue-ship’s board of, well, cowardice.
The reason his intervention is relevant is that matters of sexual politics in the workplace very much aside, Ellison’s charge – if validated – tends to suggest a perfectly capable leader of a bellwether technology company, indeed, one of the four most important of them all, can be nuked at a moment’s notice for reasons completely irrelevant to his stewardship of a high-tech giant.
Specifically: in an email to a major US newspaper Ellison has said the HP Board of Directors have responded to Hurd’s problems with a spate of what he terms "cowardly corporate political correctness" that will cost shareholder’s billions.
As anyone who’s had the pleasure of talking to one of the industry’s resolutely non-standard corporate boilerplate executives will know, Ellison takes no prisoners when he smells idiocy in the air: "The HP Board just made the worst personnel decision since the idiots on the Apple Board fired Steve Jobs many years ago," being his opening salvo.
That decision nearly destroyed Apple, he points out (hands up anyone who disagrees? Thought not) and "would have if Steve hadn’t come back and saved them". He then also points out the firm had a long list of failed CEOs until they hired Hurd (again… ? thought not) who has spent the last five years doing a brilliant job reviving HP to its former greatness. "In losing Mark Hurd, the HP board failed to act in the best interest of HP’s employees, shareholders, customers and partners."
For anyone, incidentally, who has not been following the soap opera, Hurd came under a shadow last week for alleged sexual harassment – an issue that went nowhere ultimately. But he does seem to have filed some inaccurate expenses claims – a sin so great no reader of CBR could of course ever encompass the meaning of, so we provide a translation: he bought a flash meal to impress a mate or a date. Yes, and this is no longer a capital offence – don’t worry, we are starting the e-petition later this week.
Meanwhile, HP’s CFO Cathie Lesjak has replaced Hurd, becoming of course HP’s second female leader.
Ellison has a point – sorry. Hurd was a good leader and basically, his head is being put on a pike because these days life in Corporate America has to be as far from being like ‘Mad Men’ as possible.
This means that any dolt can lead a major tech firm into any kind of a morass – so long as they never even look at a pretty girl, leave the office for lunch, or travel anything other than coach.
You like that kind of a world? Think it creates guys like an Ellison, a Jobs, or even a Hurd?
Dream on – but be happy doing so in total political certitude.
