HP's Dunn faces exit in January

Chairwoman out next year following privacy concerns

Hewlett-Packard has announced that Patricia Dunn will step down as chairman on 18 January, 2007, and that Mark Hurd, the company’s chief executive officer and president, will succeed her and retain his existing positions.

Dunn has come under increasing pressure following recent allegations against HP and its executive privacy policies concerning leaks to the media.

Dunn said in a statement: “The recent events that have taken place follow an important investigation that was required after the board sought to resolve the persistent disclosure of confidential information from within its ranks. These leaks had the potential to affect not only the stock price of HP but also that of other publicly traded companies. Unfortunately, the investigation, which was conducted with third parties, included certain inappropriate techniques. These went beyond what we understood them to be, and I apologise that they were employed.

Hurd said in the statement: “I am taking action to ensure that inappropriate investigative techniques will not be employed again. They have no place in HP.”