Update: IBM Overhauls Executive Ranks

Atkins replaces Mike Borman, who took the top channel job only 18 months ago. Borman will now take over IBM's iSeries business (formerly AS/400 midrange systems).

Al Zollar, who took over the iSeries Group 18 months ago, was named general manager of IBM's Tivoli software group. Robert LeBlanc, who was heading up the Tivoli organization, was named general manager of WebSphere. And John Swainson, who was heading up the WebSphere organization, will replace Atkins as the top software sales executive for IBM Software.

Leonard DiCostanzo, executive vice president of clients at ICP, a Staten Island, N.Y., IBM solution provider, said he does not expect the management shake-up to affect IBM's channel efforts. "IBM has a 100 percent channel commitment," he said. "They are focused on making the channel strong because we make them strong. One-third of their revenue goes through the channel. How could their channel commitment wane?"

DiCostanzo, who is expanding his relationship with IBM to include IBM storage and additional IBM Software support, said ICP's relationship with IBM's channel reps and midlevel channel management is strong.

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As far as the departure of Borman, DiCostanzo said Borman was highly regarded in the channel. "While you always like to see stability in leadership, change is good, too," he said. "I am sure IBM has good reasons for it."

Atkins' background includes nearly 14 years holding a variety of staff and management positions in IBM's field sales and marketing. In 1992, he was named executive assistant to the general manager of worldwide financial analysis, where he cut his teeth on the merger and acquisition front and pricing strategies. He joined IBM's Software group in 1995, where he served as vice president of competitive marketing and later as vice president of worldwide sales operations with management responsibility for the group's 5,000-person sales team.

In 1996, he joined IBM's personal software products division as vice president of marketing and was promoted again in 1997 to general manager with worldwide responsibility for the $250 million unit. He also served as general manager of software sales, Americas, and general manager of IBM Latin America.