IBM appoints from within for ANZ managing director role

IBM has announced the appointment of David La Rose as managing director of IBM Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), replacing Kerry Purcell, who will return to a senior leadership role in IBM Japan.

La Rose has been promoted from within the organisation, boasting a career spanning 28 years at IBM in a range of roles, including senior executive roles in Europe and Asia Pacific (APAC).

Most recently he was the APAC vice president for enterprise and commercial, responsible for IBM's sales organisation across the region.

On his appointment, La Rose says he is happy to be leveraging his experience at the company to drive growth in local markets.

"Having spent much of my early career working for IBM in Australia, I regard it as a real privilege to be given the opportunity to lead this business," he says.

"I have a strong appreciation for the talent that exists within IBM across Australia and New Zealand, and a great respect for the innovation and industry leadership shown by our clients.

La Rose also previously served as the general manager for Central and Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic and Russia) where he gained market share and transitioned the business to strategic software and services.

He also held the role of IBM Global Business Partners vice president, where he led the addition and expansion of new eco-system partners and grew traditional partner revenue.

He adds, "Digital disruption continues to reshape industries and markets around the world. IBM remains a trusted partner for delivering value and solving business issues, and I look forward to working closely with our clients as they tackle these challenges.

Prior to this, David held a number of senior roles within the Systems business in Australia, China and Japan.