HP boss resigns amid sexual harassment claims

NEW YORK: Hewlett-Packard chief executive Mark Hurd resigned Friday amid an inquiry into sexual harassment, the blue-chip computer firm said.

"Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Hurd has decided with the board of directors to resign his positions effective immediately," the company said in a statement.

HP had brought in outside counsel to investigate allegations that Hurd had violated HP's sexual harassment policy in his dealings with a former contractor.

The probe found that Hurd had not broken harassment rules, but was in breech of "HP's standards of business conduct."

"I realised there were instances in which I did not live up to the standards and principles of trust, respect and integrity that I have espoused at HP and which have guided me throughout my career," Hurd said in a statement. "This is a painful decision for me to make after five years at HP, but I believe it would be difficult for me to continue as an effective leader at HP and I believe this is the only decision the board and I could make at this time."