CDN has learned American executive Dave Liederbach is in charge of IBM Canada on an interim bases.
Liederbach is currently the GM of IBM’s U.S. eastern operations and reports to Phil Guido, the GM of IBM North America. In his current role, Liederbach is responsible for the market development, sales and support of all IBM products and services.
Earlier this week, CDN found out from sources both internally and outside the subsidiary that Dan Fortin retired as president of IBM Canada. IBM Canada has a policy to not disclose personnel changes.
The same IBM Canada source told CDN that it will be business as usual at the company and that the existing management team at IBM Canada would run the business on an interim basis.
But now it looks as though Liederbach will have the final say. Liederbach should not be confused with the higher profile IBM executive Ned Lautenbach or his son Marc who currently leads the IBM sales and distribution operations in the U.S. and Canada. Ned Lautenbach held numerous executive positions including serving as a member of the IBM Corporate Executive Committee. He was also senior vice president and group executive of worldwide sales and services during his 30 plus year career at Big Blue. Some channel partners thought it was the older Lautenbach, who retired from IBM in 1998, taking charge of IBM Canada.
Prior to IBM Canada, Liederbach served as vice president of global strategy and sales transformation. The University of Michigan graduate also did a stint in outsourcing at Big Blue.
Liederbach is also a member of IBM’s senior leadership, Integration & Values (I&VT) and performance teams.
The good news for IBM business partners is that Liederbach does have significant channel experience. He was the vice president of SMB services and distribution channels, while also having the dual role of Executive Assistant to then IBM Chairman and CEO Lou Gerstner.
He joined IBM in the Cleveland office in 1984 as a systems engineer.
