Leaky Business

HP CEO Leo Apotheker is left red-faced after a private memo about HP results is leaked to the market

You have to feel a bit sorry for Leo Apotheker, HP's head honcho.

The guy sends round a confidential and private message to his board level colleagues, warning of 'another tough quarter' and it is promptly leaked to the market, sparking a slight panic (I assume) and forcing HP to release its earnings report a day early.

Having been catapaulted to the helm of HP in not exactly the best circumstances after Mark Hurd's shenanigans, Apotheker has often been in the limelight for not always the right reasons, and Wall Street was quick to pounce, with HP's share price dropping as a result.

I think it is a shame if you work with people who you feel you can trust, and then someone lets you down in such a massive way.

Granted HP is a massive corporate and information should be carefully handled, but give the guy a break.

However I'm sure whoever let this slip will not get away with it for long and will be found out.

Then I'm sure they will be asking themselves as they collect their P45 - was it really worth it?