Lewis E. Platt, who rose from an entry-level engineer to become the chief executive of Hewlett-Packard (HP), died on Thursday at his home in Petaluma, California He was 64.His death was announced by the company, which did not give a cause. During his tenure as chief of HP from 1992-99, Platt was known for his low-key management style, straightforward manner and an engineering attitude applied to the executive suite. Yet he also displayed a determined, even impassioned, nature when he decided that matters of principle were at stake — and not just at HP. This year, when Platt was serving as the lead board member and nonexecutive chairman of Boeing, he quickly began an investigation after receiving an anonymous tip that the chief executive, Harry C. Stonecipher, was having an affair with a company executive. Stonecipher admitted the affair, and he was asked to resign, Platt said. Under Platt, HP prospered in the 1990’s, but it seemed slow to recognise the rise of the Internet and did not benefit as much as most of its competitors. To try to make HP a more nimble company, Platt spun off the medical instruments business, where he began his career. In 1999, HP decided to recruit an outsider as CEO. Platt supported the move and helped lead the search for his successor, Carleton S. Fiorina. At first, Platt backed Fiorina as an energetic outsider with fresh ideas. But later, when she championed a controversial merger with Compaq, Platt opposed her and her leadership. Born on April 11, 1941, Platt grew up in Johnson City, New York, and went to Cornell University, where he majored in mechanical engineering, and then earned a master’s degree in business administration from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He joined HP in 1966 as an engineer. He fit in smoothly as an ambitious young manager in a company founded by two business-minded engineers, William Hewlett and David Packard. After leaving HP, Platt served for two years as the CEO of a much smaller company, Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates. As a wine enthusiast, Platt enjoyed the new job with its absence of corporate bureaucracy. ‘‘I’m actually back doing things,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve had more trouble convincing my friends this is work.’’ Platt is survived by his wife and four daughters. — NYT
