Sun Dec 28 15:50:00 UTC 2025: Summary:

Lou Gerstner, IBM’s Chairman and CEO from 1993 to 2002, passed away. He is credited with saving IBM from potential collapse by refocusing the company on client needs, prioritizing integrated solutions over fragmented technology, and fostering a culture of adaptation and customer-centricity. He also made the pivotal decision to keep IBM together as a unified entity.

News Article:

IBM Mourns the Loss of Former CEO Lou Gerstner, Credited With Saving the Tech Giant

ARMONK, N.Y. – Dec. 28, 2025 – IBM is in mourning following the death of former Chairman and CEO Louis V. Gerstner Jr., who passed away yesterday. Gerstner, who led IBM from 1993 to 2002, is widely credited with orchestrating a dramatic turnaround for the company during a period of immense uncertainty and industry upheaval.

In an email to IBM employees, current Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna expressed his sadness and lauded Gerstner’s pivotal role in reshaping the company. “Lou arrived at IBM at a moment when the company’s future was genuinely uncertain,” Krishna wrote. “His leadership during that period reshaped the company… by focusing relentlessly on what our clients would need next.”

Gerstner’s tenure was marked by a shift in IBM’s culture, emphasizing customer needs and integrated solutions over internal processes and fragmented business units. One of his most consequential decisions was to keep IBM intact, resisting calls to break up the company into separate entities. He recognized that clients desired comprehensive technological solutions, not a collection of disparate technologies.

Beyond his strategic vision, Gerstner championed a cultural transformation within IBM, encouraging employees to prioritize customer outcomes and embrace a spirit of adaptability.

Krishna also recalled Gerstner’s continued engagement with IBM after his departure, offering guidance and perspective to successive leaders. “From my first days as CEO, he was generous with advice,” Krishna said.

Prior to his tenure at IBM, Gerstner held leadership positions at McKinsey & Company, American Express, and RJR Nabisco. He later served as Chairman of The Carlyle Group and dedicated himself to philanthropic endeavors, particularly in education and biomedical research.

IBM will hold a celebration in the new year to honor Gerstner’s legacy and contributions to the company. He is survived by his wife Robin, daughter Elizabeth, grandchildren, and extended family.

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