Ginni Rometty

Ginni Rometty
Name	Ginni Rometty
Birth name	Virginia Marie Nicosia
Birth date	29 July 1957
Birth place	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Education	Northwestern University (BS)
Occupation	Business executive
Years active	1979–present
Spouse	Mark Rometty, 1979
Boards	IBM, JPMorgan Chase, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, World Economic Forum
Title	Former Chair, President and CEO of IBM
Term	2012–2020
Predecessor	Samuel J. Palmisano
Successor	Arvind Krishna

Ginni Rometty is an American business executive who served as the chair, president, and chief executive officer of IBM, becoming the first woman to lead the iconic technology company. Her tenure, from 2012 to 2020, was defined by a strategic pivot towards high-growth areas like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and quantum computing through major acquisitions and a focus on the hybrid cloud. Prior to her role as CEO, she held numerous senior positions at IBM, playing a key role in the integration of PwC Consulting and the development of the company's global business services division.

Early life and education

Born Virginia Marie Nicosia in Chicago, Illinois, she was raised in a family of Italian and Polish descent. She attended the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and electrical engineering in 1979. During her time at Northwestern University, she also worked as a systems engineer at General Motors, gaining early practical experience. Her educational background in a technical field provided a strong foundation for her future career in the information technology industry.

Career at IBM

Rometty began her career at IBM in 1981 as a systems engineer in Detroit, working with clients in the automotive industry. She quickly progressed through a series of roles in sales, marketing, and strategy, demonstrating a talent for client relationships and business development. A pivotal moment came in 2002 when she led the successful integration of the consulting arm of PwC, a $3.5 billion acquisition that created IBM's global business services division. She later served as senior vice president of IBM Global Business Services and, subsequently, as senior vice president and group executive for IBM's sales, marketing, and strategy organization, where she was responsible for revenue in over 170 countries.

Leadership and tenure as CEO

Succeeding Samuel J. Palmisano in January 2012, Rometty's leadership focused on transforming IBM into a "cognitive solutions and cloud platform company." She spearheaded the $34 billion acquisition of Red Hat in 2019, a landmark deal central to her hybrid cloud strategy. During her tenure, she championed the commercial development of the artificial intelligence platform Watson and made significant investments in blockchain and quantum computing via the IBM Q Network. Her period as CEO also involved navigating challenges, including years of revenue decline as the company shifted away from legacy hardware and software businesses, leading to workforce restructuring and a strategic partnership with Apple Inc. to develop enterprise apps.

Post-CEO activities and board memberships

Upon stepping down as CEO in April 2020, succeeded by Arvind Krishna, Rometty continued as executive chairman of the IBM board until the end of the year. She remains a director on the boards of JPMorgan Chase and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She also serves as co-chair of the World Economic Forum's steering committee for the Digital Economy and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. In 2021, she published a memoir, *Good Power*, detailing her leadership philosophy and career experiences.

Awards and recognition

Rometty has been consistently recognized as one of the world's most powerful women in business. She has been featured multiple times on the *Forbes* list of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women" and *Fortune*'s "Most Powerful Women" list. In 2015, she was awarded the Atlantic Council's Distinguished Business Leadership Award. She has also received honorary doctorates from several institutions, including Northwestern University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, for her contributions to technology and business.

Personal life

She married Mark Rometty in 1979, and the couple resides in New York City. An advocate for STEM education and workforce diversity, she has been vocal about the importance of skills-based hiring and creating inclusive pathways to technology careers. She is also a noted art collector and a supporter of cultural institutions like the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Category:American chief executives Category:IBM people Category:1957 births Category:Living people