IBM's Ginni Rometty Steps Down As Executive Chairman

Ginni Rometty, the Executive Chairman and former CEO at IBM, has stepped down from her role, she revealed in a tweet.

“Almost 40 years ago, I came to @IBM determined to make an impact on the world. As I step down from my role as executive chairman, I know that IBM will still be part of my next chapter — it will live on in the values and purpose it has instilled in me,” she wrote.

Almost 40 years ago, I came to @IBM determined to make an impact on the world. As I step down from my role as executive chairman, I know that IBM will still be part of my next chapter — it will live on in the values and purpose it has instilled in me.

— Ginni Rometty (@GinniRometty) December 28, 2020

In her parting note, Rometty listed three important lessons that stood out to her, “never let anyone else define you”, “growth and comfort never coexist” and “work on something that matters”. She also addressed her colleagues and expressed gratitude towards them.

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Rometty wrote about the last 40 years she worked at IBM and called it “one of the world’s greatest companies”. She also mentioned that during her tenure as the CEO of the company she played part in acquiring Red Hat, which she called the largest acquisition in IBM’s history.

“My purpose might not be the same as yours and that’s okay. Because there are countless ways to work on things that matter here at IBM” she said.  She further encouraged her colleagues by adding, “Whatever you do, find purpose in your work and it will fuel your success and the success to the company. “

She ended her note passing the baton to Arvind Krishna, the CEO of IBM, and said, “ I know that under Arvind’s leadership you will carry IBM ever onward. I thank you for sharing in this journey with me, and I look forward to reading about your future success.”

Rometty started out with a systems engineer role in IBM in 1981, she took the role of CEO and Executive Chairman in 2012. The role of CEO was taken over by Arvind Krishna in January 2020 while Rometty remained the Executive Chairman.

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