HP outlines manifesto for change

Company is too complex and confusing, says Hurd

HP chief executive Mark Hurd yesterday admitted that his company has become too complex and confusing for its customers.

Speaking at Oracle's OpenWorld conference in San Francisco, Hurd presented his manifesto for changing the computer firm.

'We need to simplify the things that we do. HP needs to become a simpler, more nimble company, one that is more focused on the market,' he said.

Hurd says the company was moving moves to align its sales and marketing efforts and cut out some layers of its management structure, but that much work remained.

Formerly in charge of NCR, Hurd replaced Carly Fiorina as head of HP in April after her acquisition of Compaq failed to boost the company's fortunes in the market.