The IBM board of directors has elected Al Zollar to the board, effective October 25, 2021.
Al Zollar, 67, a former director of Red Hat, brings deep technical knowledge and experience to the IBM board. Since 2014, he has applied his expertise as a technology investor working with cloud-based technology providers, leading providers of enterprise security solutions and other technology and software-as-a-service companies. This followed a 34-year career where he held various leadership positions in IBM’s software and systems groups. He is also a member of the board of directors of Nasdaq, Bank of New York Mellon and Public Service Enterprise Group, the company said in its statement.
Arvind Krishna, IBM chairman and chief executive officer, said: “I’m incredibly pleased that Al Zollar has joined the board at this pivotal point in IBM’s growth trajectory. Al brings decades of experience as a technology manager and global investor. His deep knowledge of the technology landscape including cloud, security and software will be of immense value to IBM’s board of directors.”
Zollar has 40+ years of diverse business experiences, with the common thread being his deep involvement in a wide range of software technologies. His foundational experience was 34 years at IBM, spending his first nine years in customer facing roles, followed by 25 years growing into various general management roles, primarily in IBM’s software business, according to Al’s LinkedIn profile.
After retiring from IBM in 2011, and spending a year at the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative, he began his activities as a tech investor, investing in early stage companies and venture funds. In addition, over the past 20 years, he has applied his technology experience as a public company board director, specifically in insurance, energy and utilities, open source software, financial services and capital markets industries.
Zollar has spent the last 7 years working as an operating partner with a leading technology-driven private equity firm, where he has been involved with firms in fault-tolerant and edge computing, cybersecurity, fintech, ERP software and digital marketing.
Zollar received his M.A. in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, San Diego.
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