The top job at Hewlett-Packard Co offers a singular opportunity at the helm of a powerful Silicon Valley icon -- but comes with daunting challenges and high expectations.
Unlike in 2005, when Mark Hurd took over a bloated HP in disarray, whoever succeeds him as chief executive inherits a streamlined, smooth-running technology behemoth with investors clamoring for growth, not just another round of cost cuts.
Hurd remade HP, transforming it from a stodgy printer and personal computer vendor into a diversified IT powerhouse, the largest technology company in the world on a revenue basis.
But with the chief brought down by what HP calls expense account abuse, speculation is mounting as to whether the company will bring in a veteran with a steady hand at the helm, or a risk-taker to ignite the growth Wall Street is clamoring for.
:SugarwareZ-242:
Unlike in 2005, when Mark Hurd took over a bloated HP in disarray, whoever succeeds him as chief executive inherits a streamlined, smooth-running technology behemoth with investors clamoring for growth, not just another round of cost cuts.
Hurd remade HP, transforming it from a stodgy printer and personal computer vendor into a diversified IT powerhouse, the largest technology company in the world on a revenue basis.
But with the chief brought down by what HP calls expense account abuse, speculation is mounting as to whether the company will bring in a veteran with a steady hand at the helm, or a risk-taker to ignite the growth Wall Street is clamoring for.
:SugarwareZ-242: