Leadership Kudos and Gaffes: Google’s Page focused on tomorrow’s market and HP’s Apotheker scrambling

Kudos to Google CEO Larry Page for his bold move to acquire Motorola Mobility to integrate Android mobile operating system.  Page took over day-to-day operations at Google in April, and since then he’s made strategic moves that streamlined and focused Google’s growth strategy.  Page is the right leader for Google at this time.  While Schmidt was instrumental in allowing Google to become who they are today, Page’s focus on mobile and social is positioning the company as a leader for tomorrow’s market. 

Gaffes to Leo Apotheker and HP for confused strategy to dump PCs, Palm, Smartphones and overpay for Autonomy. Does HP know what business it is in?  Apotheker and HP are scrambling, and this type of frenetic M&A activity is in marked contrast to rival IBM’s approach to disciplined value creation — largely through organic growth.  Gerstner and Palmisano, both storied leaders, took the long-term view.  Apotheker is not.  Only 18 months ago HP bought Palm, now they want to dump it along with their core business just as the mobile computing market is growing.