Channel markets, Security Staff Acquisition & Development

IBM Names Martin Schroeter CEO of NewCo Infrastructure Services Business

Credit: Getty Images

Credit: Getty Images

Martin Schroeter, CEO, Kyndryl
NewCo CEO Martin Schroeter

IBM has appointed Martin Schroeter as CEO of NewCo -- the Managed Infrastructure Services business unit that IBM plans to spin off later this year. NewCo is a placeholder name until the spin-off actually occurs. Schroeter's appointment becomes effective January 15, 2021.

Key services of the NewCo spin-off will include hosting and network services, services management, infrastructure modernization, and migrating and managing multi-cloud environments. The business unit has a $60 billion backlog and 4,600 customers, IBM says.

Schroeter's appointment comes just days after IBM announced the appointment of former Goldman Sachs president Gary Cohn to the position of vice chairman.

Who Is Martin Schroeter?

Schroeter is a familiar leader within the halls of IBM. From December 2017 to April 2020, he was IBM's senior vice president, global markets. At the time he led IBM's global sales, client relationships and satisfaction, and worldwide geographic operations, before leaving the company in June 2020.

Schroeter started with IBM in 1992, and served in numerous roles in Japan, the United States and Australia.

He was IBM's chief financial officer from 2014 to 2017, and prior to that, served as general manager of IBM Global Financing, where he managed a total asset base in excess of $37 billion, according to IBM.

As IBM's senior vice president, global markets, he also oversaw IBM's marketing and communications functions and was responsible for building the company's brand and reputation globally.

Schroeter to Lead IBM Spin-Off: Executive Perspectives

Arvind Krishna, CEO, IBM

In a prepared statement, Arvind Krishna, chairman and CEO of IBM, said:

"Martin is a world-class leader and is uniquely qualified to drive the long-term success of the new, independent company. He has a deep understanding of the industry and has earned the trust of our clients and of the investor community.  Martin has the strategic vision and business judgement to realize NewCo's enormous potential as the global leader in managed infrastructure services. He is an inspiring, results-driven executive and the right CEO to lead NewCo through the spin-off process and beyond."

Added Schroeter:

"NewCo is a trusted partner to the world's most global enterprises with a team that has the best skills and experience in the industry. I look forward to developing a diverse ecosystem of partnerships and alliances, to continuing a deep relationship with IBM, and to the creation of market leading capabilities."

Amid the NewCo spin-off plan, IBM itself will double down on its hybrid cloud strategy -- which leans heavily on Red Hat OpenShift.

Sharon Florentine

Sharon is a master technology storyteller and editor with omnichannel experience: books and print magazines, digital, webcast, blogging, podcast, live events and video and associated brand-specific social media content. From 1999 to 2003, she acquired and edited technology books and certification exam prep guides.

After a year spent in publicity and editorial at mass-market book publishers, she returned to tech publishing and, since 2004, explored B2C and B2B news, issues and trends in consumer, lifestyle, software, software development, AI, ML, networks, big data, hardware, security, storage, cloud, equity, inclusion, diversity, women in tech, career development, IT management, H-1B visa issues and immigration, education, training and learning.

Her previous role was as the managing editor at Techstrong Group in charge of Cloud Native Now, DevOps.com, Security Boulevard and Techstrong ITSM and their brand-specific social media. She currently serves as editorial director for CyberRisk Alliance’s channel brands, ChannelE2E and MSSP Alert and acting editorial director for SC Media UK. Drop me a note and let’s talk!

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