IBM breaks new ground by selecting its first female chief

Published: Thursday, October 27, 2011

IBM global sales chief Virginia Rometty will take over as CEO from Sam Palmisano in January, becoming one of the most powerful women in business and technology today.

In taking the helm of the storied industry icon, she makes it the largest US corporation, by value, to be headed by a woman.

IBM, which had a reputation of being a strait-laced, male-dominated business empire, will formally appoint the 54-year-old engineering and computer science graduate as its first female CEO on January 1.

The selection went down well with Silicon Valley and Wall Street, especially because Mr Palmisano (60) is staying on as chairman.

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