Patricia C. Dunn

Patricia C. Dunn
Patricia C. Dunn
Born	Template:Birth date; Burbank, California, U.S.
Died	December 4, 2011 (aged 58); Orinda, California, U.S.
Occupation	Business executive
Known for	Non-executive chairperson of Hewlett-Packard (2005–2006)

Patricia C. Dunn (March 27, 1953 – December 4, 2011) served as the non-executive chairperson of Hewlett-Packard (HP) from February 2005 until her departure on September 22, 2006.

On October 4, 2006, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer filed four felony charges against Dunn linked to the HP spying scandal. Some commentators argued she was made a scapegoat. However, on March 14, 2007, a judge in California Superior Court dismissed all allegations.

Early life

Dunn was born in Burbank, California and grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, where both parents were employed in the casino sector—her father oversaw entertainment at prominent hotels, while her mother worked as a model and performer. After her father passed away when she was eleven years old, her family moved to California.

Education

She completed high school at Terra Linda High School in 1970 and briefly enrolled at the University of Oregon, but left to assist her mother by working as a housecleaner. Subsequently, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from UC Berkeley in 1975.

Career

Following graduation, Dunn started as a temporary secretary at Wells Fargo & Co. and eventually rose to become CEO of Barclays Global Investors, which had acquired Wells Fargo's asset management division. She joined Hewlett-Packard's Board of Directors in 1998. In 2001, the Financial Women of San Francisco honored her as "Financial Woman of the Year."

In February 2005, Dunn assumed the role of non-executive chair of HP’s board after Carly Fiorina’s exit. Between 2002 and October 2006, she also held the position of non-executive Vice Chairman at Barclays Global Investors. Her involvement extended to organizations such as Larkin Street Youth Services, the Conference Board's Global Corporate Governance Research Center, and the advisory board for UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

Scandal

Dunn played a pivotal role in the 2006 HP Spying Scandal by initiating inquiries into leaks originating from the board during 2005–2006. HP engaged external firms that acquired personal telephone records of board members and journalists through pretexting—a method prohibited under California law.

On September 12, 2006, HP announced that CEO Mark Hurd would succeed Dunn as Chairman starting January; however, she was to remain on the board. Ten days later, Dunn stepped down immediately from both positions, acknowledging responsibility for uncovering leak sources but distancing herself from the tactics used during investigations.

Subsequently, on October 4, 2006, Attorney General Bill Lockyer charged Dunn and four others with four felony counts including fraud and identity theft; arrest warrants were issued. Her arraignment was set for November 17, 2006.

By March 14, 2007, all criminal charges against Dunn were dropped "in the interests of justice" after she declined a plea bargain that would have reduced four felonies to one misdemeanor prior to the preliminary hearing.

Personal life

Dunn was married to William Jahnke, former leader of Wells Fargo Investment Advisors. Together they owned a winery in Australia and maintained residences in Hawaii and Orinda, California.

Having survived breast and skin cancers earlier in life, Dunn was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in January 2004. Chemotherapy brought remission until August 2006 when surgery was performed to remove liver metastases. She passed away at her Orinda home on December 4, 2011, aged 58. She is survived by her husband, three grown children, ten grandchildren, a brother, and a sister.

External links

2006 Separate video interviews with Fiorina and Dunn following the HP pretexting controversy 2006-10-08
The HP Spying Scandal, Lindsay A. Graham, 2022, presented on Wondery (podcast)