Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina may join US presidential race in 2016

28 Nov 2014

Carly Fiorina, former CEO of HP

The former CEO of computer maker HP Carly Fiorina is understood to be actively exploring a 2016 presidential run on the Republican card in the US.

Fiorina executed a major transformation of HP but stepped down from the role of CEO in 2005 following a merger with Compaq. She is believed to have been forced out of the company by the board of directors as part of a carefully planned operation.

During the heady days of the dot.com boom 14 years ago, Fiorina was one of the very few female CEOs in Silicon Valley in California, and her rise from secretary to CEO brought her national acclaim in the US.

According to The Washington Post, Fiorina has been actively talking with donors and activists in early caucus and primary states and is planning a whistle-stop tour of Iowa and New Hampshire next week.

After HP, Fiorina joined the boards of several companies, including computer security company CyberTrust. She also joined the board of trustees at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as the foundation board of the World Economic Forum.

The 60-year-old previously attempted to run for a Senate seat for California in 2010 but was unsuccessful.

The 2016 US presidential elections – which may also include Hillary Clinton (Democrats) and Sarah Palin (Republicans) as contenders – are shaping up to result in the potential appointment of America’s first female president.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com