Oracle looks to ex-HP boss

Oracle has offered a job to Mark Hurd, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, who resigned amid a scandal involving inaccurate expense receipts related to a female contractor, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The source said a final decision has not yet been made. Oracle was not immediately available for a comment.

Hurd resigned on 6 August after a probe into sexual harassment allegations. HP said he filed inaccurate expense reports related to Jodie Fisher, a marketing contractor who worked for Hurd's office from 2007 through 2009.

A separate source had previously told Reuters that Hurd had received job overtures from private equity firms and public companies immediately after his shocking departure from HP, the world's largest technology company by revenue.

It was unclear what job Hurd was offered.

On 9 August, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, in a letter, slammed HP's decision to oust Hurd, his close friend, calling the actions of HP's board "cowardly”.

Shares of HP are down 13% since Hurd's resignation. Plucked from relative obscurity to head HP, Hurd is credited with resuscitating the technology giant by cutting costs and pursuing ambitious acquisitions.

HP said the expense reports were meant to hide a "close personal relationship" with Fisher, a sometime actress who has appeared in television shows and movies.

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