When HP fired CEO Mark Hurd last year over sexual harassment allegations, Ellison moved quickly to snap up his friend as Oracle's co-president. The move seemed controversial to outsiders, but tech followers knew the still-admired Hurd would strengthen an already stellar executive lineup, opening new customer opportunities for Oracle and giving the company a seasoned executive to run its sales operation. "It was one of the best hires of 2010," says UBS analyst Brent Thill. With Hurd and co-president Safra Catz, Oracle is now said to have one of the best senior management teams in tech.
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Last updated March 31 2011: 7:05 AM ET