Investigating boardroom leaks to biz reporters

The New York Times and other media outlets are reporting today about an SEC filing by Hewlett-Packard in which the computer maker disclosed that it had investigated its board members to determine who was leaking information to business journalists.

Former CEO Carly Fiorina was apparently upset with articles quoting board members who weren’t happy with her performance.

Reporter Damon Darlin wrote, “The confrontation within the board unfolded this year after an internal report identified George A. Keyworth II, the company’s longest-serving director, as a source of disclosures.

“The company said the report was based on monitoring of board members’ calls from home phones and cellphones in January, an effort authorized by Patricia C. Dunn, the chairwoman.

“When the report was presented at its meeting in May, the board asked Mr. Keyworth to resign, but he refused, saying he had been elected by the shareholders, a company spokesman said.

“The company also said that the attempt to oust Mr. Keyworth had prompted Thomas J. Perkins, the founder of the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, to resign. A company spokesman, Michael Moeller, said that because Mr. Perkins did not say that he was resigning out of disagreement with the board, the company did not disclose the events relating to the investigation when it reported his resignation to the S.E.C.”

Read more here. A copy of Perkins’ letter to the H-P board disclosing that the investigation centered around a leak to Internet news site CNET.com can be found here.