Lew’s Legacy

Lew Platt’s time as CEO of HP (1992–1999) was successful for many reasons, but his most important legacy was his commitment to diversity. Under his leadership, HP launched successful multi-year programs to improve the hiring, retention and advancement of women and minorities at all levels of the company. These programs included diversity training, awareness initiatives and the formal empowerment of employee resource groups. When Platt retired in 1999, U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo read the following statement into the Congressional Record: “Lew Platt took it upon himself to create a workplace second-to-none in its acceptance of women and minorities.”