The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Technology industry giant and pioneer Mark Hurd, 62
A pioneer in the technology industry has died at the age of 62.
Mark Hurd was best known as the chief executive of Hewlett-Packard (HP) and president of the Oracle Corporation.
His death comes just weeks after he announced he was taking a medical leave of absence from work.
Born in New York City, he studied at Archbishop Curley-Notre Dame High School in Florida and graduated in 1980.
The next 25 years were spent at the NCR Corporation, where he rose through the ranks from junior salesman to chief operations officer. He left and became chief executive at HP in 2005.
Under his leadership, the company became prolific in the selling of desktop and laptop computers.
In 2008, it increased its market share in inkjet printers and laser printers to 46% and 50.5%, respectively.
While serving as chairman and chief executive at HP, Hurd was named one of Fortune Magazine’s 25 “most powerful people in business” in 2007.
After leaving the company in 2010 he became president of the Oracle Corporation, an American multinational computer technology firm based in California.
In three years, the sales force had increased by 4,000 people.
Last month, Mr Hurd announced he would be stepping down from the role at Oracle for health reasons that were not specified. He died on Friday.
Tributes from technology leaders poured in for the businessman.
Former Cisco chief executive John Chambers said: “We lost an iconic leader in hi-tech today.
“Having known Mark Hurd as a peer and a competitor, I have tremendous respect for him and the differences he has made in the industry.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and the employees of Oracle. Mark will be missed.”
American businessman Bill McDermott said he was “saddened by the loss of Mark Hurd”.
He added: “He was a self-made success in the industry and presided over mega accomplishments. While we competed vigorously in the market, we enjoyed respect.
“My heartfelt prayers are with Mark’s family on this solemn day.”