HP’s Top Lawyer, a ‘Straight Shooter,’ Helped Topple the Man Who Hired Him
Michael Holston became Hewlett-Packard’s general counsel in 2007 after overseeing a probe into HP’s use of pretexting as part of a corporate effort to stop media leaks. Three years later, Holston oversaw an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against the man who hired him, CEO Mike Hurd.
The probe ended with Hurd’s ouster after findings that there was no harassment but Hurd had falsified expense reports to hide his relationship with his accuser, Reuters reports. According to the wire service, Holston, who was friends with Hurd, is known as a “straight shooter who likes to play by the rules.”
“While Holston did not make a recommendation to the board on Hurd’s future,” Reuters says, “it must have been hard for the 47-year-old former federal prosecutor to have a hand in toppling the man who hired him.” Covington & Burling also assisted in the sex harassment probe.
Hurd is getting “a cushy severance package” that includes $12 million in cash and stock options worth $30 million to $40 million, Corporate Counsel reports. He did not admit any wrongdoing.
Holston had worked at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius as HP’s outside counsel before he joined the company. He has shaken up the legal department since taking over the job, increasing workload requirements and trimming spending on outside counsel.
