IBM exec: Australian businesses to undergo shift

22.02.2007
IBM's Australia/New Zealand CEO and managing director, Glen Boreham, will address the national press club in Canberra on March 7, 2007, to talk about the changing role of the enterprise in the 21st century.

Boreham will address the theme "Is the 20th century organization history?" focusing specifically on how change will impact Australian business.

According to Boreham, in the 21st Century, a new type of organization is emerging that doesn't think of itself as an organization - but as a network.

He said this new organization is highly responsive, globally resourced and has the ability to compete in the globally integrated economy.

"The implications of this fundamental shift in the business environment will be profound for Australia, with the potential for it to both damage or support our future economic prosperity," Boreham said.

In his address, he will discuss how Australia should respond to the way global integrated enterprises are relocating value around the world.

He will look at the resulting dangers and opportunities for Australian organizations and the need to re-skill the workforce to ensure the right type of work flows into the local economy.

Boreham was appointed CEO at IBM in January last year replacing Philip Bullock, who was in the position for five years before being promoted and taking up a new position in China.

Boreham, first joined IBM in 1986 and was in charge of the Telstra account.

He began his career in sales and spent a number of years working for IBM in London.

During this time, Boreham was appointed vice president for IBM's sales and technical support in Europe.

In this role he had responsibility for operational support in 124 countries covering 90,000 employees.