Who was the CEO of IBM during its 1990s turnaround?

Who was the CEO of IBM during its 1990s turnaround? Lou Gerstner.

Lou Gerstner became IBM’s chairman and CEO in April 1993, when the company was suffering major losses and many analysts expected it to be broken into separate businesses. He was the first IBM CEO hired from outside the company, arriving after John Akers was forced to resign.

Rather than splitting IBM apart, Gerstner kept the company together and focused on execution. He simplified the organization, cut costs, emphasized customer needs, and strengthened IBM’s services business. His strategy treated IBM as an integrated technology and services company rather than merely a maker of computer hardware.

A famous line associated with his arrival is that “the last thing IBM needs right now is a vision”; Gerstner wanted practical action before grand slogans. John Akers preceded him, while Samuel Palmisano became CEO after Gerstner retired in 2002. Gerstner’s book, Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance?, later described the turnaround and his management approach.