IBM's General Manager for Global Public Sector, Robert Samson, will retire on Aug. 1, Channelweb.com has learned. IBM has named Anne Altman, who will return to the public sector side of the business after a few years leading IBM's Systems z group, to succeed him.
Samson was unavailable for comment, but his retirement was confirmed by an IBM spokesman. A legend in the public-sector IT channel, Samson has in several CRN interviews often expressed his adoration for public-sector IT business, and is one of its most accomplished executives.
He was named general manager for IBM's public-sector business in 2005, and in 2006 was awarded Everything Channel's public-sector Lifetime Achievement Award. Samson moved out of public sector that same year to become head of sales in IBM's Systems & Technology Group, but returned to the public-sector GM role in 2008.
In the 1990s, Samson held a succession of leadership roles in IBM's public-sector organization, including vice president of IBM's North America state and local government business, then as general manager of IBM's North America federal, state and local business, and then five years as vice president of worldwide sales for IBM's Systems Group before returning to the public-sector side as general manager in 2005.
"Bob was always a strong supporter and advocate of the channel, and well-respected by channel members around the world," said Alex Gogh, vice president of IBM's Systems and Technology Group (STG). "He has a lot of passion for the channel and public sector and was able to unite the two of them to not only accelerate [IBM's] growth in the public sector, but also accelerate growth for our partners with innovative public-sector programs like Public Sector Edge."
Gogh has worked closely with Samson during his stints both in public sector and in leadership roles with STG, and said Samson's "people side and his passion for the sector" both helped make him an icon in the channel and the face of IBM's public-sector partner growth.
Samson's retirement and Altman's ascension come at one of the most exciting times for public-sector IT business, thanks to the effects of federal stimulus and IBM's push to broaden its public-sector foothold. In its most recent quarterly earnings, IBM reported that its public-sector business was its strongest, thanks to a push to expand its health-care and government reaches and its embrace of opportunities created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"I'm thrilled to return to the public sector market during a very unique period, as large government recovery and stimulus programs are under way here in the U.S. and abroad," said Altman, in a statement e-mailed to Channelweb.com. "I see an opportunity for IBM to continue, as well as broaden, its work with governments and private-sector organizations around the world -- at the federal and state and local level, as well as health-care and education markets "- to modernize national infrastructures and improve the delivery of important services citizens and governments rely on every day."
According to IBM, Altman will report to Ginni Rometty, senior vice president of Global Sales and Distribution, and her team will include divisional general managers Todd Ramsey of IBM Federal, Chuck Prow of IBM Global Business Services for Public Sector, Gerry Mooney of IBM Global Fiscal Stimulus and Economic Recovery, and Dan Pelino of IBM Healthcare and Life Sciences.
Altman for the past two years has been general manager of IBM's Systems z, Big Blue's mainframe computers business. She has held several executive positions on IBM's public-sector side in the past, including managing director of US Federal.
"Anne will be instrumental to the public sector, and she brings a wealth of background and knowledge," said Gogh, who also worked closely with Altman during her previous public-sector roles. "She led the federal division during a period of tremendous infrastructure build-out by the U.S. government dating back to pre-9/11, and she also saw tremendous growth with the partner community. Federal was her baby, and she's a huge proponent of the channel. Her tremendous relationships with government clients around the world mean she's bringing a lot to the table."
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