An IIT-Kanpur Alumni, Arvind Krishna, who was working with IBM since three decades, takes up the position of CEO for IBM.

FREMONTt, CA: International Business Machines Corp (IBM) CEO Ginni Rometty is handing over the responsibilities to the company’s cloud business head, Arvind Krishna, as the technology pioneer continues to make progress. 

Arvind Krishna, 57, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur, spearheaded the Red Hat deal, the biggest deal of the company with a history of 108-years. The company veteran is set to take over the position in April. Experts have predicted that IBM will continue its trajectory under Krishna, but redirect its focus on smaller acquisitions in the domain of cloud and analytics.

Being the head of IBM business unit at present, Arvind Krishna provides the cloud and data platform on which the company’s clients design future innovations. His scope includes IBM research, cloud, and Security, along with Cognitive application businesses. 

Arvind presently leads the unit’s strategy, product design, offering development, marketing, sales, and services. He also provides guidance to IBM’s overall strategy in core and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, blockchain, cloud platform services, data-driven solutions, and nanotechnology.

Previously, he fulfilled the role of general manager for IBM Systems and Technology Group’s development and manufacturing organization and was responsible for developing and engineering advanced semiconductor materials through microprocessors, servers, and storage systems. Before this, Arvind was the general manager of IBM Information Management, which included database, information integration, and big data software solutions. He has also served as vice president of strategy for IBM Software along with other key technical roles in IBM Software and IBM Research, where he pioneered IBM’s security software business.

Arvind has an undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK), and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has also received the distinguished alumni awards from IITK and the University of Illinois, and is the co-author of more than 15 patents, has been the editor of IEEE and ACM journals, and has published extensively in technical conferences and journals.