IBM revamps management
IBM makes a series of top management changes as part of a restructuring of the company's worldwide operations.
The changes--which included promoting four top executives and consolidating computer services under IBM's Global Services brand--are part of IBM's efforts to offer "global solutions" to its mostly Fortune 500 clients. The changes are also meant to put new emphasis on direct sales over the Net and end infighting among the company's dozens of units around the globe.
"We are making a big push in electronic commerce and doing business over the Internet," Joe Stunkard, an IBM spokesman told CNET, adding that IBM's Net focus is part of a larger effort to provide "complete solutions" to customers.
Among the promoted is Lucio Stanca, IBM's 55-year-old former general manager of sales in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He will now preside over worldwide sales on the Internet, in catalogs, and to worldwide distributors of the company's products and services except PCs. The company is looking to increase its direct sales to 60 percent of total revenue from about 35 percent today, the Wall Street Journal reported today.
William A. Etherington, 55, has replaced Stanca. Etherington, who now reports to David W. Thomas, 47, has moved into the role of general manger of global industries from the job as chief of the North America sales. Thomas was succeeded by John W. Thompson, 47, who had served as general manager of the Personal Software Products unit, Stunkard said.