HP criticised for latest boardroom appointments

HP is once again finding itself under fire over its boardroom dealings, having been recently called out by corporate governance analysis firm ISS for its conduct in selecting members for its board of directors.

ISS reportedly criticised newly-appointed HP chief executive Léo Apotheker for being directly involved with the selection process and naming directors with whom he had previous connections.

The company suggested that shareholders should vote against three directors nominated by the committee.

A spokesperson for HP told V3.co.uk that the company is standing by governance practices it calls "strong and robust".

"We believe that ISS' recommendation is based on their misinterpretation of the process that HP employed in identifying, selecting and nominating our directors," the spokesperson said.

"We do not believe that it would be in the best interests of HP's stockholders to lose the service of the experienced and dedicated board members who have been delegated primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining those governance practices and who, by any standard, have carried out their obligations in a fully compliant manner."

The news is the latest saga around HP's boardroom and executive practices. Late last year the company grabbed headlines when chief executive Mark Hurd resigned amid word of a sexual harassment claim.

Following a public war of words between HP and Oracle chief Larry Ellison, Hurd moved to Oracle and HP named former SAP head Apotheker as chief executive.