Hewlett-Packard Co. has announced that Patricia Dunn will step down as chairwoman of the computer and printer maker in January amid a widening scandal over an internal company inquiry into leaks to the media. She will be succeeded by CEO Mark Hurd.
Hewlett-Packard's board reconvened last night to discuss whether chairwoman Ms Dunn should remain in her post following her role in the investigation that may have used illegal means to obtain the personal phone records of colleagues and journalists.
Earlier in the day, the Congressional committee asked HP to turn over "records and information related to the company's reported effort to obtain private phone records."
The request was made as part of the panel's investigation into "pretexting" - the practice of impersonating a person in order to access their personal information.
Ms Dunn had ordered the outside investigation of fellow board members to determine who anonymously leaked information, especially as it related to the job status of former chief executive Carly Fiorina.
Mr Hurd will retain his existing positions as chief executive and president and Ms Dunn will remain as a director.
"I am taking action to ensure that inappropriate investigative techniques will not be employed again. They have no place in HP," Mr Hurd said in a statement.
Ms Dunn apologised for the techniques used in the company's probe, which included "pretexting" in which private investigators impersonated board members and journalists to acquire their phone records.
"Unfortunately, the investigation, which was conducted with third parties, included certain inappropriate techniques. These went beyond what we understood them to be, and I apologise that they were employed," Ms Dunn said in a statement.
HP hired private investigators who used Social Security numbers and other personal information to impersonate HP directors and journalists. The impostors then tricked phone companies into turning over detailed logs of their home and cellular phone calls.
FBI Deputy Director John Pistole said the bureau was investigating two possible crimes: illegal computer intrusion and wiretapping.
HP said in a regulatory filing it was co-operating fully with the federal inquiry, along with the investigation by the California state attorney general, which requested similar information.