Analyse
HP’s official **August 18, 2011 press release** confirmed the company was 'exploring strategic alternatives' for PSG, including a 'spin-off or other transaction.' Apotheker’s remarks, made during an earnings call and in interviews (e.g., *Bloomberg*, *Reuters*), aligned precisely with this corporate position. The statement was neither exaggerated nor misleading—it directly mirrored HP’s disclosed strategy at the time. While the spin-off was later abandoned under Meg Whitman’s leadership, the original claim was factually correct when made.
Achtergrond
In 2011, HP was struggling with declining PC margins and shifting its focus toward software and enterprise services under Apotheker’s leadership. The proposed PSG spin-off (which included HP’s consumer and commercial PC divisions) was part of a broader restructuring plan, which also involved acquiring Autonomy Corp. and discontinuing webOS devices. The plan was reversed in **October 2011** after Apotheker’s ouster, with HP opting to retain PSG.
Samenvatting verdict
Léo Apotheker’s August 2011 statement accurately reflected HP’s public announcement about exploring a spin-off or separation of its Personal Systems Group (PSG).