What happened to Mark Hurd? What we know about late Oracle CEO and Paula Hurd’s husband

Mark Hurd was the co-CEO of Oracle and former head of HP. He passed away in October 2019 at 62. While his entire professional career was in the public light, it was also filled with some controversies. He was married to Paula Hurd, who is currently making headlines for her alleged relationship with Bill Gates.

Hurd's passing was reportedly shocking for everyone who knew him. Oracle confirmed their co-CEO's death to CNBC, but the cause of his death was not specified in their statement. Larry Ellison, Oracle Chairman, informed the company's employees about the sudden passing of Hurd. Ellison wrote,

"Oracle has lost a brilliant and beloved leader who personally touched the lives of so many of us during his decade at Oracle."

"All of us will miss Mark’s keen mind and rare ability to analyze, simplify, and solve problems quickly. Some of us will miss his friendship and mentorship. I will miss his kindness and sense of humor," Ellison added.

While Hurd's illness was not confirmed, according to Silicon.co.uk, it was reported that Hurd allegedly had cancer, which got serious five weeks after he took a leave of absence.

Mark Hurd was allegedly a single man for three years after his divorce from his first wife. In 1990, he married Paula Hurd, and soon, the couple welcomed two daughters, who they named Kelly and Kathryn.

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Why did Mark Hurd take a leave of absence from Oracle?

A month before his death, Hurd took a leave of absence from Oracle and stated some health issues as the reason. However, he did not specify what issues were troubling him. According to the company's website, Hurd wrote a note to his colleagues and mentioned how he had decided to "spend time focused on my health." He penned,

"Though we all worked hard together to close the first quarter, I've decided that I need to spend time focused on my health. At my request, the Board of Directors has granted me a medical leave of absence."

"As you all know, Larry, Safra and I have worked together as a strong team, and I have great confidence that they and the entire executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we will showcase at the upcoming OpenWorld," Mark Hurd added.

He concluded by expressing his "love" for Oracle and wished it success during his absence.

Hurd was appointed as co-CEO of Oracle along with Safra Catz in September 2014. He served his position for five years, and the company's stock allegedly went up about 37% during his tenure.

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Who became Oracle's CEO after Mark Hurd's death?

While Larry Ellison addressed Mark Hurd's sudden death, he also confirmed that Safra Catz would become Oracle's sole CEO. She had earlier shared the position with Hurd.

Soon after the company reported its second-quarter 2019 results, the CEO's position was announced. According to Computing, Ellison clarified that Oracle did not plan to have a second CEO.

"We have no plans for having a second CEO, it was an unusual situation."

"Mark and Safra were a fantastic team, but we have complete confidence in our existing team," Ellison added.

At the moment, the late Mark Hurd's wife, Paula Hurd, has been making headlines as Bill Gates confirmed their "serious relationship." In an interview on Today Show, Gates confirmed that he and Paula have a common interest in sport and are enjoying their time together.