Louis Gerstner, CEO credited with turning around IBM, dies at 83

Core Insights - Louis Gerstner, who transformed IBM from a struggling company into a technology leader, passed away at the age of 83 [1] Group 1: Leadership and Transformation - Gerstner's nine-year tenure as chairman and CEO is often cited as a case study in effective corporate leadership [2] - He became the first outsider to lead IBM in 1993, at a time when the company faced potential bankruptcy or dismemberment [3] - Gerstner shifted IBM's focus from hardware production to business services, reversing plans to break the company into smaller units [3] Group 2: Cost Management and Cultural Change - He implemented significant cost-cutting measures, including selling unproductive assets and reducing the workforce by 35,000 employees [4] - Gerstner emphasized teamwork across the company and linked compensation to corporate performance rather than individual results [5] - He replaced the traditional loyalty to divisions with a culture of accountability and regular performance assessments [5] Group 3: Strategic Product Focus - Gerstner eliminated the practice of selling bundled products that only worked with IBM goods, discontinuing underperforming products like OS/2 [6] - The company shifted its focus to middleware, becoming an integrator for various networks and systems, regardless of the hardware brand [7] - He recognized the importance of the internet and e-business early on, pivoting IBM's strategy towards servers and sophisticated equipment [8]