Louis Gerstner

Louis Gerstner is an American business executive who is best known for his successful turnaround of IBM in the 1990s. He served as Chairman and CEO of the company from 1993 to 2002 and was credited with leading the company’s renaissance.

Gerstner was born on March 1, 1942, in Mineola, Long Island, New York. He grew up in a working-class household, and his parents instilled a strong bipartisan political outlook and a pride in hard work. Gerstner graduated from Chaminade High School in 1959 and went on to attend Dartmouth College, where he studied mathematics and graduated in 1963.

In 1966, Gerstner received a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School and then embarked on a business career at the start of the 1970s. His first job was as an analyst at McKinsey & Company before he joined American Express in 1978 to oversee the financial services division. Gerstner quickly rose through the ranks and was named chairman and CEO of the company in 1985. This role saw him manage the credit card business and also take charge of its travel-related services ventures.

After his success at American Express, Gerstner was hired to lead IBM in 1993. At the time the company was struggling and in need of a total overhaul. Gerstner swiftly set a plan in motion to remodel the business, introducing a customer-centric approach to focus on clients rather than technology. He cut costs throughout the organisation, trimmed staff and sold off several non-essential divisions. He increased R&D spending and made strategic acquisitions to develop new software, hardware, cloud and cognitive products and services. This financial restructuring, combined with rebranding and marketing initiatives, revitalised the company and returned it to profitability.

Gerstner also put in place programs to give back to those in need and developed diversity initiatives to foster an inclusive corporate culture. He stepped down from his position in 2002 and is widely credited with instilling the ‘spirit of IBM’ with his signature leadership and innovation.

As well as his remarkable business career, Gerstner has written two books about his experience at IBM. During his tenure at IBM, he wrote ‘Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance?’, which offers a personal account of his time at the company. The book is a testament to his vision, his knowledge and his commitment to transforming IBM. His second book ‘The Road Ahead’ looks at the company’s potential beyond his tenure and also offers his thoughts and insights on the impact of technology on business and society.

Louis Gerstner is a true pioneer of the tech industry, and his books are essential resources for any aspiring business leader. His vision, determination and leadership have had a lasting impact on the success of IBM for generations of technology experts to come.