The events were billed as C.E.O. executive summit meetings, exclusive gatherings, often lasting several days, where Hewlett-Packard officials wooed top customers. When Mark V. Hurd, H.P.’s chief, appeared at them, he sometimes relied on Jodie Fisher, a 50-year-old former reality television contestant turned H.P. marketing consultant, who would introduce him to customers and keep him company.

Mr. Hurd’s relationship with Ms. Fisher, which led to his ouster last week, has put an unsavory end to one of the great executive runs in recent American business history. And it has stunted a long search by H.P.’s employees for stability and pride at the patriarch of Silicon Valley companies.

On Sunday, Ms. Fisher, who had accused Mr. Hurd, 53, of sexual harassment, disclosed her identity in a statement from her lawyer and said that she had never had a sexual relationship with Mr. Hurd. “I was surprised and saddened that Mark lost his job over this,” she said. “That was never my intention.”

Mr. Hurd, who is married, has settled the matter with Ms. Fisher for an undisclosed sum.

H.P.’s top executives on Sunday said they would no longer discuss Mr. Hurd’s situation and vowed to find a new chief executive to keep the business running smoothly. “We are not going to slow down one bit,” said Cathie Lesjak, the chief financial officer and interim chief executive.