Louis Gerstner Jr.
Louis Gerstner Jr. was born on March 1, 1942 in New York. He graduated from Chaminade High School, Dartmouth College and earned a Master’s degree of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Gerstner is the former chairperson and CEO of IBM. He retired the position of CEO and Chairman in March and December 2002, respectively. He is largely recognized as the man who saved IBM’s fortunes. Louis Gerstner was also the CEO of RJR Nabisco, holding senior positions at American Express and McKinsey & Company. In early 2003, Gerstner served as chairman of The Carlyle Group. In 2008 he retired. He still functions as a senior advisor to the global private equity firm.
Earlier in his career, Louis Gerstner worked at American Express as the executive vice president of the card division, eventually becoming the president of the Travel Related Services group in 1979. In 1982, Louis Gerstner advanced to CEO and Chair of Travel Related Services. Three years later, he became president of the parent company.
Although he was noted as a workaholic, he countered that a workaholic can’t take vacations and said, “I take four weeks a year.”
Gerstner’s pinnacle of his leadership skills was during his tenure in IBM. At his advent in the company, the plan was already set for breaking the company. Gerstner went against it and instead turned IBM’s slump around.
Aside from business, Louis Gerstner Jr. was dubbed a Knight Commander of the British Empire, a suggestion by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, because of Gerstner’s contribution to UK education and the Internet. In 2008, Louis Gerstner Jr also obtained the Legend in Leadership Award from the Yale School of Management.