Louis Gerstner, credited with rescuing IBM from decline, has died aged 83.
He led the company as chair and chief executive from 1993 to 2002.
Gerstner took over when IBM was losing relevance amid fierce competition from Microsoft and Sun Microsystems.
He became the first outsider to run the firm.
One of his defining moves was rejecting plans to break IBM into smaller units.
Instead, he focused on integrated solutions that matched client needs.
IBM’s current chief executive, Arvind Krishna, said this decision was vital to the company’s survival.
He praised Gerstner’s clarity during a period of deep uncertainty.
IBM had once dominated computing but struggled as rivals built PC-compatible machines using Intel chips and Microsoft software.
Gerstner prioritised profitability and customer service over grand strategy slogans.
He also scrapped IBM’s OS/2 operating system, conceding ground in the PC market.
Before IBM, Gerstner led American Express and RJR Nabisco.
After leaving IBM, he chaired the Carlyle Group.
Colleagues remembered him as intense, demanding, and sharply focused on delivery and innovation.
