Mark Hurd

Mark Hurd
Born	Mark Vincent Hurd 1 1, 1957
Birthplace	New York City, U.S.
Died	Template:Death date and age
Occupation	Business executive
Title	Co-CEO of Oracle Corporation
Known for	CEO of Hewlett-Packard, CEO of Oracle Corporation, CEO of NCR Corporation
Education	Baylor University (BBA)
Children	2

Mark Vincent Hurd (January 1, 1957 – October 18, 2019) was an American business executive who held leadership positions at three major technology corporations over a career spanning more than three decades. He served as chief executive officer of NCR Corporation until 2005, then as chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Hewlett-Packard (HP) from 2005 to 2010, and finally as co-chief executive officer of Oracle Corporation from 2014 until shortly before his death in 2019. At HP, Hurd implemented aggressive cost-cutting measures and operational restructuring that initially boosted the company's financial performance, though his tenure ended abruptly amid controversy in August 2010. Within weeks of his departure from HP, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison hired Hurd as co-president, and he was later elevated to co-CEO alongside Safra Catz. Hurd's death at age 62 in October 2019, following a leave of absence for health-related reasons, marked the loss of one of the most prominent—and at times polarizing—figures in the American technology industry.

Early Life

Mark Vincent Hurd was born on January 1, 1957, in New York City. Details about his family background and upbringing remain limited in publicly available sources. He grew up during a period of rapid expansion in the American technology sector, a field in which he would eventually build his entire professional career.

Hurd attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. His connection to Baylor remained significant throughout his life. In September 2023, Baylor University officially dedicated the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center on its campus, honoring Hurd and his wife Paula for their contributions to the university. The dedication ceremony reflected the lasting relationship between Hurd and the institution where he began his academic journey.

Education

Hurd received his undergraduate education at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. After completing his studies at Baylor, Hurd entered the technology industry, beginning what would become a more than 25-year career at NCR Corporation before moving to senior leadership positions at Hewlett-Packard and Oracle. Baylor University continued to recognize Hurd's achievements and philanthropy in the years following his graduation, culminating in the dedication of the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center on campus in 2023.

Career

NCR Corporation

After graduating from Baylor University, Hurd joined NCR Corporation, a technology company specializing in point-of-sale systems, self-service kiosks, and automated teller machines. He spent more than 25 years at NCR, rising through the ranks of the organization in a series of increasingly senior management positions. His long tenure at the company provided him with deep operational experience in the technology hardware and services industry. Hurd eventually ascended to the role of chief executive officer of NCR, a position he held until 2005, when he was recruited to lead Hewlett-Packard.

His time at NCR gave Hurd a reputation as a disciplined, operations-focused manager who emphasized cost control, efficiency, and accountability. These qualities would define his subsequent leadership roles and become central to his management approach at Hewlett-Packard.

Hewlett-Packard (2005–2010)

Appointment and Early Tenure

In 2005, Hurd was appointed chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Hewlett-Packard, one of the largest and most iconic technology companies in the world. His appointment came during a period of transition for the company, which had undergone significant upheaval in its leadership ranks in the preceding years. HP's board of directors selected Hurd in part because of his track record at NCR and his reputation for operational discipline.

Upon taking the helm at HP, Hurd moved quickly to restructure the company's operations. He implemented substantial cost-cutting measures, including significant workforce reductions, and focused on streamlining the company's sprawling business units. His approach emphasized operational efficiency and financial performance, and the results were reflected in HP's stock price and earnings during the early years of his tenure.

Operational Restructuring

Hurd's management of HP was characterized by a focus on margins, efficiency, and disciplined execution. He sought to reduce overhead and administrative costs while maintaining the company's competitive position in the personal computer, enterprise server, and printing markets. Under his leadership, HP grew to become the world's largest personal computer manufacturer by market share.

His approach at HP drew comparisons to his earlier work at NCR. The emphasis on cost reduction and operational metrics earned Hurd recognition in the business press. In 2007, Fortune magazine included Hurd in its list of the 25 most powerful people in business. In 2009, Forbes recognized Hurd in a survey of top-performing CEOs.

During this period, Hurd also oversaw the integration of several HP acquisitions. The Compaq merger, which had been completed before Hurd's arrival, continued to be a subject of analysis during his tenure, with some observers crediting Hurd's operational approach with making the combined entity more efficient.

Hurd's compensation at HP was also a subject of public attention. In 2009, The New York Times reported on executive compensation practices at HP under Hurd's leadership. Compensation data published by Equilar documented the financial terms of Hurd's role at the company.

Departure from HP

Hurd's tenure at HP ended abruptly in August 2010 when he resigned from the company. The circumstances of his departure generated considerable media coverage and public debate. HP's board conducted an investigation into allegations involving Hurd and a contractor who had served as a hostess at HP events. While the board concluded that Hurd had not violated HP's sexual harassment policy, it found that he had filed inaccurate expense reports that concealed a personal relationship, a violation of the company's standards of business conduct.

The resignation sent shockwaves through the technology industry and financial markets. HP's stock declined following the announcement, and the company's board faced criticism from some shareholders and industry observers who believed that Hurd's departure was an overreaction. The Wall Street Journal reported extensively on the internal dynamics of the board's decision and the aftermath of Hurd's exit.

Following Hurd's departure, HP appointed Catherine Lesjak as interim CEO while conducting a search for a permanent replacement. The company subsequently hired Léo Apotheker as CEO, and later Meg Whitman, who faced the challenge of reversing what Bloomberg News described as HP's "free fall" in the years following Hurd's exit.

As part of his departure from HP, Hurd also stepped down from the board of directors of News Corporation, where he had served as a director.

Oracle Corporation (2010–2019)

Hiring by Oracle

Less than a month after his resignation from HP, Hurd was hired by Oracle Corporation as co-president, alongside Safra Catz. The hiring was announced in September 2010 and was orchestrated by Oracle co-founder and then-CEO Larry Ellison, who had publicly criticized HP's board for allowing Hurd to leave.

Oracle issued a press release confirming the appointment, emphasizing Hurd's experience in managing large-scale technology operations and his track record of delivering financial results. The move prompted a legal dispute between HP and Oracle, as HP alleged that Hurd's new role could lead to the disclosure of HP trade secrets. The two companies eventually reached a settlement.

Co-CEO Role

In 2014, when Ellison stepped aside from the CEO role to become executive chairman and chief technology officer, Hurd and Catz were jointly appointed as co-CEOs of Oracle, a structure that was unusual among major technology corporations. In his role as co-CEO, Hurd was primarily responsible for Oracle's sales, marketing, and strategic direction, while Catz focused on finance and operations.

Under Hurd's co-leadership, Oracle pursued an aggressive strategy to transition its business model from on-premises software licensing to cloud computing services. This shift was a central element of the company's strategy during the mid-to-late 2010s, as the entire enterprise software industry underwent a transformation toward cloud-based delivery models.

Hurd oversaw significant changes in Oracle's sales organization, restructuring the company's go-to-market approach to align with the cloud strategy. He also championed Oracle's college recruiting program, dubbed the "Class Of" program, which was designed to bring new talent into the company's sales organization.

Oracle also expanded its physical footprint during this period, including plans for new facilities. The company moved forward with construction projects in Austin, Texas, reflecting its growth trajectory under the Hurd-Catz leadership structure.

Leave of Absence and Death

On September 11, 2019, Oracle announced that Hurd would take a leave of absence from his position as co-CEO for health-related reasons. The company did not initially disclose the specific nature of his illness. The announcement was made alongside Oracle's quarterly earnings release.

Hurd died on October 18, 2019, at the age of 62. His death was confirmed by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who paid tribute to Hurd's contributions to the company. Ellison described Hurd as a close friend and valued colleague.

Personal Life

Mark Hurd was married to Paula Hurd. He had two children. Hurd and his wife maintained a connection to Baylor University, and their philanthropic contributions to the institution were recognized with the dedication of the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center on the Baylor campus in Waco, Texas, in September 2023.

Hurd also served on the board of directors of News Corporation until 2010, when he stepped down following his departure from Hewlett-Packard. He was a member of the Technology CEO Council and served on the board of directors of Globality.

Hurd died on October 18, 2019, at the age of 62, following a period of illness that had led to his leave of absence from Oracle the previous month.

Recognition

Throughout his career, Hurd received recognition from several business publications and industry organizations. Fortune magazine named him among the 25 most powerful people in business in 2007, reflecting his impact during his early years leading Hewlett-Packard. Forbes included Hurd in a survey of top-performing CEOs in 2009, recognizing the financial results he had delivered at HP.

The New York Times maintained a dedicated topic page covering Hurd's career and the events surrounding his tenure at HP, reflecting the level of media attention his career attracted.

Following his death, industry analysts and former colleagues reflected on his career and contributions to the technology sector. Business Insider published an assessment of Hurd's legacy, describing him as a figure whose career was marked by both operational achievement and controversy.

Baylor University honored Hurd and his wife Paula with the dedication of the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center in September 2023, recognizing their contributions to the university.

Legacy

Mark Hurd's career spanned three of the most prominent names in the American technology industry—NCR, Hewlett-Packard, and Oracle—and his leadership had a measurable impact on each organization. At HP, he restored financial discipline to a company that had struggled with leadership instability and operational inefficiency in the years before his arrival. The cost-cutting and restructuring measures he implemented improved HP's profitability and market position during his tenure, though some observers questioned whether the emphasis on short-term financial performance came at the expense of long-term innovation and investment.

His abrupt departure from HP in 2010 and rapid hiring by Oracle became a defining episode in Silicon Valley corporate history. The speed with which Ellison recruited Hurd—and publicly criticized HP's board for letting him go—underscored the high regard in which Hurd was held by one of the industry's most influential figures. At Oracle, Hurd played a central role in the company's transition to cloud computing, a strategic shift that shaped the company's competitive trajectory in the enterprise software market.

Business Insider noted that Hurd's career was characterized by both operational accomplishment and personal controversy, creating a complex legacy. His supporters pointed to the financial results he delivered at every company he led, while his critics raised questions about the circumstances of his departure from HP and the human costs of his cost-cutting approach.

The leadership structure Hurd shared with Safra Catz at Oracle—the co-CEO model—represented an unusual governance arrangement among major technology companies and reflected the level of trust that Ellison placed in both executives. Following Hurd's death, Catz continued as sole CEO of Oracle.

Hurd's philanthropic contributions, particularly to Baylor University, continued to be recognized after his death. The 2023 dedication of the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center at Baylor served as a lasting institutional tribute to his connection to the university and his and his wife's generosity.