IBM's traditional retirement age of their CEOs and chairpeople has been 60 in the past, and Arvind is 62. How long do you think he has?
24 replies (most recent on top)
3 more years, I think 65 will be when he's made enough money and will find a successor
How did Arvind ever get chosen to be CEO?
As long as the company explodes in stock price, perhaps a 2:1 split for the the over 60s to ensure retirement income via dividends... Arv will stay on, he loves the CEO income and crown. JG in consulting perhaps but as any young blood doesn't understand the need for stock value to be stable vs a cash out - buy out future.
He will never be hurting for money
Hope the next CEO encourages fair hiring practices based on experience and skills and not on race,
People forget AK was never intended by Ginny to be her successor the CEO. Was supposed to be Jim Whitehurst. AK was at most to be a caretaker/interim CEO until JW was ready. But yes, who else is there? RT is top guy at IBM-T and the head of IBM-C is older than AK and rumored to be retiring end of year. Maybe, hopefully, someone from the outside?
@3oxk maybe they'll turn to Dario Gil and use quantum as the next dream to sell.
RT, RT, RT… RT would be a great CEO to continue running IBM into the ground!
Hard to believe Krishna would ever recommend a white boy to the BOD anyway.
Let’s see what happens.
What exec currently at IBM has accomplished much to be named Arvind's successor. I cannot think of anyone. Might be better to hire someone from the outside to be Arvind's successor.
Current rumor on the exec level is the Board does not believe Rob has ever accomplished anything of note, or success. One of RT's big plays in late 23 was to take ALL IBM software and add it IBM Cloud. IBM Cloud is generally where products go to die, so...
Being in the cloud game requires LONG TERM thinking and investment. Look at MSFT or AWS. Huge investments and took years to pay off. But now - WOW.
RT is the heir apparent, but like others have said, I would short IBM if he is appointed CEO. My guess AK steps down in early 25, assuming they have decided on next CEO.
If RT ever becomes IBM CEO, short IBM shares immediately
His ideas all come out of the bo-g
You are right to be concerned about Rob Thomas. The whole National Market spinup was his plan idea. They moved a ton of IBMers from other markets into this market and now the National Market is being hit hard with layoffs or PIPs. I am not saying you shouldn’t go after the whitespace accounts but don’t overstaff the market and then be forced to downsize. It is sad and my heart goes out to those impacted. Rob Thomas and Arvind are cold hearted and do not care about the employees.
Can anyone actually imagine RT as CEO?
@xue+1qQSAXmg Very good Kemosabe
5 years max, probably. More likely around 3. What do you think?
Following up on @ynz+1qQSAXmg
Folks I left about five years ago. I was making decent money at IBM, but hadn’t gotten a raise in several years despite great reviews. I’ve about tripled my income since and love the work I do.
I don’t resent IBM and in fact wish all of you well. My family has a legacy at IBM and I wanted to make an impact but even my family said “time to go” and my only wish is I didn’t move sooner.
Build great skills at IBM and bounce if you’re not happy. Don’t wallow in misery.
We certainly don’t need an Indian CEO who wants to outsource every US jobs to India. Fu-k that, and I am an Indian by the way, so I can speak.
If you think Whitehurst retired and left for something he believed was better. You are smart enough to replace Arvind.
FYI Ginni retired at 62 years and 9 months
Jim Whitehurst left IBM and landed in the clusterf*ck that is Unity. I wonder if he has reconsidered those 2 moves.
Well definitely time for him to retire. He has old school thinking. Not a knock on his age since I am at that age too, but he seems to dig his heels in on his decisions and does not seem to be thinking outside the box. And Rob Thomas as his replacement would be a total disaster. It is sad that Jim Whitehurst left IBM as I believe he would have been an improvement.
Time for him to leave… so we can get RT…
Who knows, but let's be real, someone aged 55+ will take his place. There is no chance anyone in the 40-50 age range is going to take his place, someone who can actually hold the job long and do something. The position has more or less been like the Monarch in the UK - procedural but not necessary. IBM no longer hires people with vision at the highest positions, only those who can sniff out the money and save as much as possible wherever possible.
For younger folks, the best to do is take a job at IBM, use the opportunity to learn whatever you can from Think40 to professionally enhance your own skills, and after some 5 years, jump ship. Wish I'd taken my own advice, but I am stuck now.