IBM Puts Power Systems and System z Server Under One Manager

Published: November 29, 2010

by Timothy Prickett Morgan

Sometimes it takes a lot longer for information trickling out of IBM to reach us than you would think. Back in July I told you all about Big Blue's merger of the Systems and Technology Group, which makes servers, storage, and chips, and its Software Group, which makes operating systems, databases, and middleware. What was not apparent when IBM consolidated systems and software as well as reconsolidated its services units back into the Global Services behemoth, it had also converged its Power Systems and System z mainframe server lines under one general manager.

The System z and Power Systems machines share many components--memory sticks, peripheral cards, and elements of the processor--but are still based on unique instruction sets and processors. As of July, when IBM rolled out the System zEnterprise 196 mainframes, its so-called "system of systems," Tom Rosamilia, who was general manager of the IBM mainframe business, was also tapped to run the Power Systems business.

So when I said Ross Mauri was GM of the Power Systems division two weeks ago in Crazy Idea Number 528: Apple Mac OS X on Power Systems, I didn't know he was now vice president of enterprise process transformation working up in IBM HQ in Armonk, New York. According to Mauri's note to me last week, he is "overseeing IBM's global enterprise process transformation initiatives. Pretty cool stuff using advanced analytics and advanced business process management techniques to continue to advance IBM's global transformation and improve business performance across all units."

Scott Handy, who was vice president of marketing and strategy for Power Systems has moved to another job within IBM, and Karl Freund, who had that same job many years ago at IBM and was more recently the vice president of marketing and strategy for the System z business, has joined upstart ARM server processor maker Calxeda, formerly known as Smooth-Stone. (You can read about my coverage of Calxeda over at The Register here.)

Underneath Rosamilia, Greg Lotko has been named vice president and business line manager for the System z servers, while Colin Parris, who was in charge of the systems software development labs for Systems and Technology Group, is the VP and business line manager for the Power Systems side. Doug Brown is running marketing for Power Systems and System z machines, and Tony Devore is now in charge of worldwide sales for Power Systems.

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