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Accuser ‘Saddened’ by HP Chief Hurd’s Ouster
August 09, 2010

A file photo dated shows Mark Hurd who resigned on Friday as chief executive of computer giant Hewlett Packard following an investigation into charges of sexual harassment. Jodie Fisher, 50, an actress and businesswoman in the center of the sexual harassment claim, said on Sunday she was surprised and sad after learning Hurd had resigned. (EPA Photo) A file photo dated shows Mark Hurd who resigned on Friday as chief executive of computer giant Hewlett Packard following an investigation into charges of sexual harassment. Jodie Fisher, 50, an actress and businesswoman in the center of the sexual harassment claim, said on Sunday she was surprised and sad after learning Hurd had resigned. (EPA Photo)
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San Francisco. The woman whose sexual harassment accusation against Mark Hurd led to his ouster as chief executive of Hewlett-Packard has come forward, saying she never intended for Hurd to lose his job.

Jodie Fisher, a former actress who appeared on an NBC reality TV show in 2007, revealed her identity for the first time through a statement released by her attorney, Gloria Allred.

“I was surprised and saddened that Mark Hurd lost his job over this,” said Fisher, 50. “That was never my intention.”

Hurd’s resignation, announced late last week, stunned the business world. HP accused him of falsifying expense reports to conceal a “close personal relationship” with Fisher.

In the computer maker’s first public comments in two days, HP said it had received an “extremely supportive” response from investors after the ouster of Hurd, one of the most widely admired CEOs in the world.

The saga began in late June when Fisher leveled a sexual harassment charge against Hurd. She worked as a contractor for HP from late 2007 through 2009.

An HP investigation found no violation of the company’s sexual harassment policy, but turned up inaccurate expense reports filed by Hurd or on his behalf, and instances in which Fisher received compensation for no legitimate business purpose, HP has said.

Fisher, who is not married and has a son, said she had resolved her claim against Hurd privately, but did not provide further details. She said she did not have an affair with Hurd.

“At HP, I was under contract to work at high-level customer and executive summit events held around the country and abroad,” Fisher said. “I prepared for those events, worked very hard and enjoyed working for HP.”

HP made a public effort to put the controversy behind it and move forward. Interim CEO Cathie Lesjak said HP had been transparent on the circumstances surrounding Hurd’s departure, but declined to comment further on the matter.

Sources close to Hurd’s camp have disputed HP’s account of events.

Lesjak said key investors and customers had supported the company’s action. Lesjak, who has taken herself out of consideration for the CEO job, said the search committee is moving as swiftly as it can to identify a new leader.


Reuters