IBM Exec Pulls Out Of Running
For Top Compaq Post
(04/19/99, 4:19 p.m. ET)
By Edward F. Moltzen, Computer Reseller News
A top IBM executive has taken himself out of
the running in the search for a new CEO at
Compaq.
Samuel Palmisano, IBM senior vice president in charge
of the computer giant's IBMGlobal Services unit, said he
does not want the Compaq CEO job that was made
vacant by the resignation of Eckhard Pfeiffer.
"As you can imagine, I have no interest in pursuing this
opportunity," Palmisano told CRN.
It is not the first time Palmisano's name has been floated
as a potential CEO of another top computer company.
In 1997, following the resignation of Gilbert Amelio as
CEO at Apple, Palmisano's name came up publicly, and
he similarly said he had no interest in that post. At that
time, Palmisano was overseeing the IBM Personal
Systems Group that includes the company's PC business.
Since then, Palmisano has consistently said he is not
interested in discussing other positions, inside IBM or
outside.
Palmisano's services group at IBM has a $40 billion
backlog in contracts and has topped the $30 billion-a-year
mark in revenue.
Earlier in the day, Compaq chairman Ben Rosen, who is
heading up the search for a new CEO, said the company
was looking for an "aggressive" executive to replace
Pfeiffer.
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