Arvind Krishna: Chairman and CEO of IBM

Arvind Krishna has been serving as IBM CEO since 2020.

Indian American Arvind Krishna is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of technology giant IBM. Born in India, Krishna earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, before pursuing graduate studies in the United States. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Krishna became IBM’s CEO in  April 2020, succeeding Ginni Rometty, who had served as CEO since 2012. He took on the role of Chairman in January 2021.

Krishna began his career at IBM in 1990, at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center, and was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2015, managing IBM Cloud & Cognitive Software and IBM Research divisions.

Throughout his tenure, he has been instrumental in driving IBM’s strategic transformation, particularly in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. He played a pivotal role in the acquisition of Red Hat, positioning IBM as a leader in hybrid cloud solutions.

Prior to his current role, Krishna served as IBM’s Senior Vice President for Cloud and Cognitive Software, where he oversaw the company’s cloud and data platform portfolio. Under his leadership, IBM’s cloud business experienced significant growth, establishing the company as a key player in the cloud market.

Krishna is recognized for his strategic vision, technical expertise, and commitment to innovation. He is known for his ability to navigate complex business landscapes and drive organizational change. As CEO, he is focused on accelerating IBM’s growth and delivering value to clients through innovative solutions and services.

Born into a Telugu-speaking family in West Godavari District in the Coastal Andhra region of Andhra Pradesh, South India, Krishna did his schooling in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, and Dehradun before receiving a BTech degree from IIT Kanpur in 1985.

He is the recipient of distinguished alumni awards from both IIT, Kanpur and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Read more on Arvin Krishna:

Arvind Krishna named co-chair of NY Emerging Technology Advisory Board (March 11, 2024)

Arvind Krishna elected to New York Fed Board of Directors (May 5, 2022)

Indians in green card line hail Arvind Krishna’s appointment as IBM CEO (January 31, 2020)