What was the scandal in the famous Hewlett Packard Co. recently?

Question

What happened? Anyone knows?

Answer 1

wikipedia.org :

Chairman: Patricia C. Dunn (February 2005 - September 22, 2006) Dunn initially resigned September 12, 2006, effective as of January 18, 2007. On September 22, 2006, Dunn's resignation became effective immediately. While some believe she resigned due to her involvement in HP's pretexting scandal, she has not yet issued a statement explaining her reasons.

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Dunn, Four Others Charged in Hewlett Surveillance Case

By Ellen Nakashima and Yuki Noguchi
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, October 5, 2006; Page A01

Former Hewlett-Packard Co. chairman Patricia C. Dunn and four others were charged with fraud and conspiracy in California yesterday, one month after HP disclosed that it had conducted a wide-ranging spying operation to identify the source of leaks to the news media......

from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/04/AR2006100401072.html

Answer 2

HP power board man Tom Perkins engineered Carly Fiorina's sudden job termination for no outright reason and evidently he doesn't like the idea of women in high corporate command at HP.

It's believed within HP headquarters boardroom, something serious happened and Tom Perkins wanted it swept under the rug. In short: Fiorina was "tipped" or face jail time for something she didn't do; Fiorina rolled over and was fired with no opposition from her.

Now, a year or so later, with Pattie Dunn taking over Fiorina's HP board chair, seems the same thing has happened again and internal HP investigation was called. Another HP investigation was done and it was found that HP boardman Jay Keyworth was guilty of whispering sensitive HP information to the press and God knows who else. Keyworth is Tom Perkins' best friend.

Dunn called for Keyworth to be held accountable for his actions. Perkins asked Dunn if the whole mess could be covered up from HP stockholders. Dunn said no--Keyworth was to be fully held accountable for his actions. Perkins stormed out of the board meeting; fellow HP boarmembers/witnesses, shocked at Perkins protection of a traitor quickly accepted Perkins' resignation.

Perkins then got busy, and started a huge press PR smear campagin against Dunn, bum rapping her with stories she allegedly authorized illegal spying on HP boardmembers and press writers; something Dunn denies ever doing.

Then, a sorely embittered Perkins went one better: he ordered a team to speak to Law Enforcement. Now, Dunn is facing prison charges in relation to this matter. Dunn is not only fighting for her freedom now, but also for her life from serious ovarian cancer.

And what about Jay Keyworth??? Well, he was let go with a SETTLEMENT ( a hefty nice $$$$ / severence package ) from CEO Mark Hurd!!!!

And where's Tom Perkins??? He scurried off into International waters, sailing far away on his mega-million dollar yacht--refusing to speak to the press (an glaring sign of a coward).

In the 60 Minutes interview, an impressive brave Pattie Dunn has a good point about Tom Perkins when she said "If you have enough money and you’re willing to spend enough, you can buy and sell somebody’s reputation,"---and evidently, their freedom, too.

That, in my mind, makes empowered people like Tom Perkins a seriously dangerous man: if he does feel $$$ can buy someone's bad reputation---how much more is he willing to spend on other means to get someone "out of the way"?????

If I was a HP stockholder, I'd RAISE HELL to CEO Mark Hurd--asking how a despicable man like Tom Perkins can get away with this. And I'd use my Rolodex and contact President Bush, asking either the Coast Guard or US Navy go after Perkins and haul him and his fancy yacht back to the US, where US Marshalls, eager to handcuff him, would be waiting.

Mind you: I'm NOT a "girl-power" advocate, but real lines must be drawn on what I believe is a glaring example here of dangerous levels of Administrative Abuse: a term I think should be on lawbooks---right next to Sexual Harrassment!!!!

Answer 3

One of the Heads of HP had the other board members phone's bugged and calls traced. (Their HOME Phones too!!) Something they seemed to have forgotten is AGAINST THE LAW!

You can read one of the many articles here.
Fiorina book: HP board was 'dysfunctional'

http://msn-cnet.com.com/Fiorina+book:+HP+board+was+'dysfunctional'/2100-1026_3-6123609.html?part=msn-cnet&subj=ns_2510&tag=mymsn

That articel contains many other links to other reports. What a mess. LOL