Léo Apotheker wins top job at HP

David Heath
Saturday, 02 October 2010 10:01

IT People - Enterprise

Out of work since February, ex-SAP CEO Léo Apotheker is the surprise appointment as CEO of Hewlett-Packard, replacing the disgraced Mark Hurd.

Since leaving software giant SAP in February, little has been seen of Léo Apotheker.  Now in a major surprise to analysts around the world, he has been appointed to head up Hewlett-Packard following Mark Hurd's departure last month.

At the same time, Ray Lane a well-known software industry executive was appointed as non-executive Chairman.

Fluent in 5 languages and coming from a very strong sales background, Apotheker will being a very different perspective to HP's previously strong technical and hardware-focussed leaders. 

More than one commenter has observed that Oracle will not be happy with the prospect of HP moving into the software business, although equally, HP wasn't entirely happy that Hurd joined Oracle, taking legal action to stop the appointment, although an agreement on the matter was later reached.

In cementing his position at HP, Apotheker will first need to smooth some ruffled feathers: it is widely assumed that at least two senior HP executives were in the final running for the role and will obviously be disappointed in losing to an outsider.