Blogs ask: Have you Hurd?

Weighing in online, bloggers take a cautious look at HP's new CEO

By Ian Lamont

March 30, 2005 12:00 PM ET

Computerworld -

Comprehensive coverage of Hewlett-Packard's new CEO, Mark Hurd

Hewlett-Packard Co.'s new CEO, Mark Hurd, isn't very well known in the IT blogging world, judging by the cautious response to his selection yesterday. Hurd, who left the CEO job at NCR Corp. to take over at HP, begins his new duties Friday.
A look at postings around the Web indicates that bloggers are still trying to figure out more about what the 48-year-old Hurd has in store for HP.
Bloggers on Technology Pundits who weighed in on HP's move were generally supportive. Tim Bajarin, in a blog posted yesterday, said that in tapping Hurd, HP signaled that it doesn't want another CEO prima donna, and instead wants to focus on strategy. The big question mark, Bajarin wrote, is how the HP board will handle Hurd. His view: While the company certainly wants to avoid another Carly Fiorina-style dust-up, it should avoid overmanaging its new pick.
Rob Enderle, also writing on Technology Pundits, called the choice a good one, and wrote that he expects Hurd to remain as CEO for three to five years. Calling the selection "a stay-the-course strategy from HP," Enderle said he expects that Hurd will focus on management basics such as improving efficiency and executing strategy. And he doesn't foresee any major disruptions.
This will come as a relief to both employees and customers, who won't want to deal with another "new HP," wrote Enderle.
Naomi Moneypenny, writing at Manyworlds.com, said this: "What an interesting choice -- and how very different from Carly Fiorina." She noted Hurd's success in improving NCR's financial results but wondered if he can come up with a new strategy now. HP's strength has traditionally come from innovation, she wrote, arguing that the company would be ill-advised to follow in the footsteps of IBM with a diversified product line that seeks to cater to customers' every need.
HP needs to overhaul its strategy, Moneypenny said, with an eye on what she called "moving up the value curve in innovation."
Bloggers at BusinessPundit.com seized on reports of Hurd's friendly demeanor, and wondered whether HP could be overcompensating for Fiorina's perceived aloofness. Noting that Hurd's forte lies in operations, BusinessPundit bloggers asked whether HP might have been better off finding someone with Fiorina's forte (sales and marketing) who would be more willing to delegate responsibilities.
British blogger Richi Jennings dug into Hurd's cushy compensation package, which provides him with a base salary of $1.4 million for four years plus bonus and stock-option agreements. And she noted thatthe press release issued by HP yesterday didn't even mention Fiorina, referring only to the fact that Hurd will replace interim CEO Robert Wayman.

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