IBM has named a new leadership team, including a new CEO and president, as longtime leader Ginni Rometty announces her retirement, the company announced Thursday.
Arvind Krishna will be the new CEO, replacing Rometty, the 62-year-old leader who has been chairman, president and CEO of IBM since 2012. Rometty will retire at the end of the year after 40 years with the company, IBM said.
James Whitehurst, who has been CEO of Red Hat and IBM Senior Vice President, was elected as IBM president. There had been speculation among industry insiders that Whitehurst might be named CEO after IBM bought Red Hat last year.
"In Arvind and Jim, the Board has elected a proven technical and business-savvy leadership team," Rometty said in a statement.
Both Krishna and Whitehurst will assume their new positions effective April 6. Rometty will remain executive chairman of IBM's board through the end of the year.
Krishna, 57, is IBM Senior Vice President for Cloud and Cognitive Software, according to an IBM news release.
Whitehurst, 52, joined Red Hat in late 2007.
