Report: HP may shift CEO duties

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Hewlett-Packard Co.’s board of directors discussed shifting some day-to-day responsibilities from CEO Carly Fiorina to other executives in an effort to improve the technology giant’s performance, according to a published report Monday.

The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, said the board discussed granting more control to three senior executives at its annual planning meeting that took place between Jan. 12 and Jan. 15 in San Francisco.

Fiorina’s job is not in question, one source told the newspaper. “But she shouldn’t be running everything every day,” the person told the Journal. “She is very hands on, and that slows things down.”

HP said the report was speculation.

“Boards discuss a wide range of topics consistent with their fiduciary responsibilities, and any speculation about these discussions is just that — pure speculation,” HP spokesman Bob Sherbin said in a brief statement.

The board did make structural changes at a recent meeting, he added, but those were announced Jan. 14. That’s when HP said it was combining its highly profitable imaging and printing division with its personal computer unit.

“There are no other senior changes due in the near future,” Sherbin said.

In the Jan. 14 move, printer chief Vyomesh Joshi was named to lead the combined group. Joshi also was identified as one of the three executives who would gain more day-to-day responsibilities under the scenario that was discussed by the board.

The other executives who could take on more responsibilities include Ann Livermore, who heads the services and enterprise computing division, and Shane Robison, HP’s chief technology and strategy officer.