Louis Gerstner, credited with rescuing IBM from decline, has died aged 83.
He served as chair and chief executive from 1993 to 2002, during a period of intense industry change.
When Gerstner arrived, IBM faced fierce competition from Microsoft and Sun Microsystems.
He became the first outsider to lead the company and rejected plans to break it apart.
Instead, Gerstner kept IBM intact, arguing customers wanted integrated solutions, not fragmented products.
That decision proved pivotal to IBM’s survival and recovery.
IBM’s current chief executive, Arvind Krishna, said Gerstner reshaped the company by focusing on client needs.
He steered IBM away from unprofitable ventures and prioritised execution over grand vision.
Earlier in his career, Gerstner led American Express and RJR Nabisco.
After leaving IBM, he chaired the Carlyle Group.
Colleagues remember him as demanding, focused, and pragmatic.
His leadership marked one of the most significant turnarounds in corporate history.
