Desi acest lucru nu a intrat in atentia presei, Steve Jobs ar fi fost un prieten apropiat al fostului CEO al HP, Mark Hurd, si a incercat sa il ajute sa isi pastreze pozitia in anul 2010. Atunci HP avea nevoie de o schimbare si s-a luat decizia schimbarii lui Hurd intr-o tentativa de a creste vanzarile si profitul companiei, insa Steve Jobs a incercat sa il convinga pe Hurd sa se intoarca in functia pe care o parasise, oferindu-se chiar sa scrie o scrisoare consiliului director si sa vorbeasca personal cu fiecare dintre membrii sai.
Three days after he’d resigned as CEO under pressure from the company’s board of directors, Hurd received an e-mail from Steve Jobs. The Apple founder wanted to know if Hurd needed someone to talk to. Hurd met Jobs at his home in Palo Alto, according to people who know both men but did not wish to be identified, compromising a personal confidence. The pair spent more than two hours together, Jobs taking Hurd on his customary walk around the tree-lined neighborhood. At numerous points during their conversation, Jobs pleaded with Hurd to do whatever it took to set things right with the board so that Hurd could return. Jobs even offered to write a letter to HP’s directors and to call them up one by one.
Hurd si-a dat demisia din functia de CEO la presiunea consiliului director, insa Steve Jobs dorea ca HP sa ramana o companie puternica, acest lucru fiind, in opinia sa, necesar pentru Sillicon Valley. Hurd a fost urmat la conducerea HP de Léo Apotheker care nu s-a descurcat chiar atat de grozav, el dandu-si demisia la aproape un an de la angajare, Meg Whitman incercand in momentul de fata sa restabileasca suprematia pe care HP o detinea la un moment dat.
