IBM 2001 Annual Report Download - page 10

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8
customers
—
everything from “smart dust” to e-sourcing,
from global e-learning to e-government, from life sciences
to grid computing. What a world is hurtling toward us!
However, a decade or so is long enough to be the
leader of a large, complex company like IBM. To win in
this industry, you’ve got to get out in front of the big
shifts that come along about every ten years. You need
fresh thinking and the courage to lead wrenching change.
With e-business, we caught the wave early. We bet the
company on the networked world, and that will serve
IBM well for years. But I’m sure that Sam will face, during
his long and illustrious career, another major shift. When
it comes, I hope he throws out everything Gerstner ever
did. Adjusting to the market’s evolution is why IBM is
now succeeding
—
just as an inability to do so was once
IBM’s fundamental failure.
We see fascinating hints already of the company IBM
will become. I am confident that, with Sam Palmisano’s
leadership, the best is yet to come. As Chairman of the
Board for the remainder of this year, I will continue to be
involved in any way that Sam desires. But my time as IBM’s
leader is over. It has been an enormously exhilarating run,
and I have learned more, much more, than I ever expected.
I don’t comfortably express my deepest feelings in
public. So let me just say, to all my colleagues, all our
loyal customers, all our invaluable partners, and to my
friend and worthy successor
—
thank you.
Thanks to the IBM customers who rooted for us to
come back from the brink.
Thanks to our shareholders, who took the time to
understand what was happening in IBM against the back-
drop of industry change.
Thanks to a smart, committed board of directors, who
provided wisdom, guidance and support for an agenda
full of risk-taking change.
Thanks to the many IBM executives who gave me a
chance, who helped me learn and supported me in the
early days
—
when they could very easily have been anti-
bodies resisting this invader from outside.
And, thanks
—
320,000 thanks
—
to all my colleagues in
this magnificent company. No matter what the challenge
—
from IBM’s own near-death experience, to Y2K, to dot-com
mania, to recession, to 9/11
—
IBM employees blessed all
of us with their grit, their passion, their compassion and
their class.
I’m proud to have served and worked with all of you.
I’m grateful for all that you’ve taught me, and for sharing
with me the business opportunity of a lifetime.
And now
—
go get ’em.
Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.
Chairman of the Board
chairman’s letter