Richard Hackborn, the HP board of directors' independent director and a key player in the ousting of Carly Fiorina has said he is quitting in March. Hackborn, was a longtime HP employee, has iconic status at the company.

Hackborn was a key proponent of a plan to shift operating authority from Fiorina to HP divisional heads and he had a great influence at board meetings. While Hackborn supported Fiorina's controversial bid to buy Compaq Computer in 2001, he got frustrated as HP's performance faltered in late 2004.

Fiorina argued that the company was performing well, but Hackborn insisted that HP had to be far more aggressive about stemming market-share losses to IBM and Dell.
Hackborn pushed for former Compaq and HP director Thomas J. Perkins to be reinstated to the board in time for him to vote for Fiorina's ouster the next day.

Fiorina removed Perkins because he was more critical and outspoken than other directors.