HP Chief Ethics Officer At Work

I used to think being the spokesperson for the NSA was the easiest job in the world (especially if one was fitted with a squackbox that said "We don't comment on operational issues.").

Turns out the really easiest job in the world is Chief Ethics Officer for Hewlett Packard, a position currently occupied by one Kevin Hunsaker.

Consider this passage from today's New York Times story.

Concern over legality was reflected in an e-mail message sent on Jan. 30 by Mr. Hunsaker, the chief ethics officer, to Mr. Gentilucci, the manager of global investigations.

Referring to a private detective in the Boston area, Ronald R. DeLia, whom the company had hired, he asked: "How does Ron get cell and home phone records? Is it all above board?" Mr. Gentilucci responded that Mr. DeLia, the owner of Security Outsourcing Solutions, had investigators "call operators under some ruse."

He also wrote: "I think it is on the edge, but above board. We use pretext interviews on a number of investigations to extract information and/or make covert purchases of stolen property, in a sense, all undercover operations."

Mr. Hunsaker's e-mail response, in its entirety, said: "I shouldn't have asked...."

Please if Hunsaker loses his job over this one, please consider me for the position. I'd be the perfect HP chief ethics officer.

I promise to NEVER ask any questions. I won't even come into the office.

Photo: melyviz