Louis Gerstner, the former chairman and chief executive officer of IBM, died Saturday at the age of 83, the company confirmed.
IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna announced Gerstner’s passing in an email to employees on Sunday, praising his leadership during one of the most challenging periods in the company’s history.
“Lou arrived at IBM at a moment when the company’s future was genuinely uncertain,” Krishna wrote. “His leadership during that period reshaped the company — not by looking backward, but by focusing relentlessly on what our clients would need next.”
Gerstner joined IBM in April 1993 after serving as CEO of RJR Nabisco and holding leadership roles at American Express and consulting firm McKinsey & Co. His appointment marked the first time IBM had selected an outsider to lead the company, often referred to as “Big Blue.”
During his nine-year tenure, Gerstner was widely credited with engineering one of the most significant corporate turnarounds in U.S. business history. At the time of his arrival, IBM was facing the possibility of bankruptcy. Under his leadership, the company shifted its focus toward business services, restructured its operations, cut costs, sold off assets, and repurchased stock. He also led a major cultural transformation within the organization.
Gerstner retired as IBM’s CEO in 2002, leaving behind a company whose stock value had risen by roughly 800% during his tenure. He later served as chairman of the Carlyle Group until his retirement in 2008.
An accomplished author, Gerstner wrote the memoir “Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance?” and co-authored “Reinventing Education: Entrepreneurship in America’s Public Schools.” He also served on the boards of several major organizations, including Bristol Myers Squibb, The New York Times, American Express, AT&T, and Caterpillar.
Beyond the corporate world, Gerstner was deeply committed to public education in the United States. He launched initiatives at IBM to integrate technology into schools and was an outspoken advocate for education reform.
In 1989, he established Gerstner Philanthropies, which includes the Gerstner Family Foundation. The organization supports biomedical research, environmental and education initiatives, and social service programs in New York City, Boston, and Palm Beach County, Florida.
Gerstner’s legacy is remembered not only for transforming IBM, but also for his lasting impact on business leadership, education, and philanthropy.