HP Hires Firm to Search for New CEO

Mark Hurd’s sudden ousting from HP has left a highly visible CEO vacancy. The longer the vacancy continues unfilled, the more of an impact this will have on the technology behemoth. Stock prices have fallen, and some analysts have started whispering that the fallout from all of this ballyhoo could put the company in a vulnerable position.

Many speculated HP would have a CEO replacement announced in time for its earnings call today, but it seems that’s not the case. Yesterday, the company made public that they hired head-hunting firm Spencer Stuart to find a suitable candidate. We’re guessing this makes the likelihood of finding another company outsider to run the company more probable.

HP’s last two CEOs, Carly Fiorina and Mark Hurd, were also outsiders. Both of them were kicked out of the company in very public disputes with the executive board.

So now the question remains: who should run the tech giant? Mr. Hurd was credited for slimming down the company — perhaps too much. Rather than a number cruncher, we hope HP seeks out more of a visionary leader in order to make webOS better compete in the mobile space. If hiring a firm is the way to do it, then so be it. But they’d better hurry. The longer the perception of HP being a rudderless company continues, the more damaging this will be.

[Source: Associated Press]