ORINDA, Calif. — Former Hewlett-Packard chairwoman Patricia Dunn, who resigned amid a scandal over a fumbled investigation into boardroom leaks, has died after battling cancer for several years.
Dunn, who rose from temporary secretary to become chief executive of the financial services firm Barclays Global Investors, served on HP’s board during a tumultuous period in the middle of the last decade, when former CEO Carly Fiorina was ousted and later replaced by Mark Hurd.
Dunn became embroiled in a scandal over the company’s use of pretexting, or using false pretenses, to obtain phone records from journalists and others during a corporate investigation of boardroom leaks. She resigned in 2006, although authorities later dropped criminal charges.
Dunn, 58, had battled breast cancer and was later diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She died Sunday morning at her home, according to a statement from her family.
“Pattie Dunn worked tirelessly for the good of HP. We are saddened by the news of her passing, and our thoughts go out to her family on their loss,” a spokeswoman for HP said.
