The Hindu Business Line : IBM carves out India/S.Asia unit

Recognising the growth potential in the sub-continent, IBM announced on Tuesday the creation of India/South Asia as its sixth and newest region in the Asia Pacific and ASEAN as a standalone region.

India has been the fastest growing country for IBM over the past couple of years.

Mr Shanker Annaswamy, who has been General manager of IBM India since July 2004, will head the newly created India/South Asia region, which includes Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

In his new role as the Region General Manager of IBM India/South Asia, Mr Annaswamy will report to Mr Frank Kern, President of IBM Asia Pacific. The ASEAN region for IBM comprises Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and other territories. Other regions within IBM Asia Pacific are Australia/New Zealand, Greater China Group, Japan and Korea.

"The creation of these two new regions reflects the high growth potential and wealth of opportunities each region avails. Over the years, we have built up enormous wealth of talents in India/South Asia and ASEAN and we can now lower the centre of gravity by moving authority and expertise closer to clients and shifting people and investments to the greatest opportunities," Mr Kern said in a press release.

Signalling the importance of India within IBM, its Chairman, President and CEO, Mr Samuel J. Palmisano, had announced in June 2006 a $6 billion investment in the country over the next three years. India has also emerged as a major delivery centre for IBM and centre of excellence for global mission activities across the organisation.