‘We’ll get to the bottom of this’ – HP boss

Hewlett-Packard CEO Leo Apotheker has promised to ferret out those who leaked the memos telling the world the company is in tough times. The memos had warned employees to “watch every penny” and raised concerns of likely layoffs.

In a somewhat contradictory mood, Apotheker told CNBC television that the memos show that the company is doing the right thing in response to its disappointing financials. He attributed the financial woes to the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, along with weak performance in PCs and services.

But he still wants to go after the leakers: “It is very unfortunate that these things happen, and I will try to get to the bottom of this,” he said.

Apotheker said that the company will focus on a “cloud and connect strategy” to turn itself around, adding that “we have to readjust our margin expectations for services”.

HP has form both for suffering from leaks and for taking a heavy-handed approach to finding the source of leaks. In 2006, its leak investigations hit the headlines when the company admitted hiring private investigators to try and trace leaks about the ousting of former CEO Carly Fiorina. It had gone so far as a wire-tapping witch-hunt that drew reporters into the net.

The interview is here.®