Louis Gerstner, the former chair and CEO credited with rescuing IBM, has died aged 83.
He led the company from 1993 to 2002 during a period of deep uncertainty.
Gerstner took over as IBM faced mounting pressure from rivals including Microsoft and Sun Microsystems.
He became the first outsider to run IBM and quickly changed its direction.
Crucially, Gerstner rejected plans to break IBM into smaller units.
Instead, he focused on integrated services and customer needs.
IBM’s current chief executive, Arvind Krishna, said this decision ensured the company’s survival.
He praised Gerstner’s focus on clients and long-term innovation.
Gerstner helped steer IBM away from declining PC businesses and dropped its OS/2 system.
He famously said restoring profitability mattered more than grand visions.
Before IBM, Gerstner led American Express and RJR Nabisco.
After leaving IBM, he later chaired the Carlyle Group.
