Backfire: Carly Fiorina's High-Stakes Battle For The Soul Of

Description: An insider's look at the internal turmoil at one of the world's premier high-tech companies. This is the inside story of Hewlett-Packard Company's struggle to regain its former glory, and of the high-stakes battle between CEO Carly Fiorina and family scion Walter Hewlett over how best to achieve that goal. For decades, HP was admired not only for its innovative products and soaring stock price, but for its egalitarian corporate culture and father-knows-best integrity. Backfire explains how the company fell on hard times, recounts the historic decision that made Fiorina the world's top-ranking female executive, and brings to life the backlash that resulted when she tried to impose her charismatic salesmanship on the aging icon. Top "BusinessWeek" journalist Peter Burrows gives the dramatic blow-by-blow of Hewlett's effort to kill Fiorina's most controversial move of all, her $19 billion purchase of rival Compaq Computer.Fiorina won by a whisker, after the most expensive proxy fight in history and a dramatic lawsuit that accused the company of illegally fixing the vote. This gripping, ongoing story includes fascinating personalities and dramatic boardroom and courtroom drama. Peter Burrows (Alameda, CA) has been a technology reporter for "BusinessWeek" for nine years and has covered the HP saga from the start. The department editor for "BusinessWeek's" computer coverage, he has been the principal chronicler of Fiorina's tenure at HP, and has written three cover stories on the subject. He has also written numerous other cover stories, including looks at Steve Jobs' Apple Computer and Sun Microsystems' Scott McNealy.

Review: "...Backfire, by BusinessWeek computer editor Peter Burrows...offer fresh insights about the epic battle and about Fiorina's ultimately successful purchase of Compaq." (Business Week, February 17, 2003) "...account distinguishes itself with a deeper portrait of Fiorina." (Publishers Weekly, February 10, 2003) "[b]oth book vividly recount the proxy fight and courtroom proceeding that preceded Fiorina's victory." (USA Today, February 24, 2003) "...a good grounding in the background to the company and its key playersA...an interesting read..." (IT Week/www.vnunet.com, 19 March 2003) "...a fascinating behind the scenes peek at one of the most powerful IT companiesA...some useful intelligence for IT managers..." (VNU Net, 19 March 2003) "...more meaty, more colourful and generally a much more enjoyable read...the book also goes much further..." (Infoconomy, 11 April 2003) "...riveting, colorful, fast-paced account of the Compaq battle". (New York Times Book Review, May 18, 2003) "...This gripping, ongoing story includes fascinating personalities and dramatic boardroom and courtroom drama..." (Computer Consultant, April/May 2003) "paints a nuanced and enlightening portrait of the leader of one of the most important high-tech companies". (The Boston Globe, June 8, 2003) "...realistic and objective... Backfire is definitely a must-read for investors, executives..." (The star online, 12 August 2003)

Contents: A note about sourcing; the showdown; the emergence of Carleton Sneed; inside the HP way; trouble in paradise; the making of a star; searching for a CEO; an eventful honeymoon; unraveling; Compaq cometh; the November surprise; proxy fight; the lawsuit; sources.


Author Biography: PETER BURROWS has been a technology journalist for BusinessWeek for nine years, during which time he has written several cover stories on Hewlett-Packard. As the department editor for BusinessWeek's computer coverage, he has been the principal chronicler of Fiorina's tenure at Hewlett-Packard.