Hewlett-Packard named former eBay chief Meg Whitman its new president and chief executive officer, replacing Leo Apotheker at the helm of the world’s biggest computer maker.

Whitman, 55, stepped down in 2008 at eBay, the internet auction giant, and last year made an unsuccessful run to replace Arnold Schwarzenegger as California Governor, losing to Democratic veteran Jerry Brown.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Meg Whitman’s calibre and experience step up to lead HP,” said Ray Lane, who was named executive chairman of the computer giant.

“We are at a critical moment and we need renewed leadership to successfully implement. Meg is a technology visionary with a proven track record of execution.”

Among the changes at HP, Ray Lane has moved from non-executive chairman to executive chairman of the board of directors, and the board intends to appoint a lead independent director, a company statement said.

“These leadership appointments are effective immediately and follow the decision that Leo Apotheker step down as president and chief executive officer and resign as a director of the company,” the California group said.

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