HP Taps Ex-SAP CEO Leo Apotheker as New Leader

HP's board defied industry expectations by naming a surprise outsider to take technology giant's helm as president and CEO. Former SAP CEO Leo Apotheker, 57, was named to the job, replacing former HP CEO Mark Hurd.

Hewlett-Packard elected to go the road less traveled to find its new chief executive officer.

After a nearly two-month search, the world's largest IT company on Sept. 30 named former SAP chief executive Leo Apotheker, 57, as its new president and CEO, replacing Mark Hurd.

It was a move few industry people saw coming.