Hewlett-Packard chairman resigns -CEO

PALO ALTO, Sept 22 (Reuters) Hewlett-Packard Co. on Friday said Chairman Patricia Dunn had resigned effective immediately as pressure on the computer maker mounts over an internal investigation into boardroom leaks.

HP Chief Executive Mark Hurd said at a news conference the company had accepted Dunn's resignation. Hurd was named chairman in her place.

''To move forward, we believe it is in the company's best interest that she (Dunn) now step aside given the distraction her presence on our board continues to create,'' HP's board said in a statement.

Dunn spearheaded an internal probe into boardroom leaks dating back to 2005. The company is now under investigation over whether it employed illegal tactics in the probe, such as using false identities to obtain phone records of employees and reporters.

Reuters DKS VP0245