“The journey that we have made as IBM to become a Globally Integrated Enterprise is something we like to talk about,” explained Lesley-Anne Wilkinson, who heads up the IBM Institute for Business Value in the Middle East and Africa. Together with her marketing colleague Wilfred Ascott, Wilkinson on Friday met with director Melle Eijckelhoff of CFO South Africa to discuss IBM’s Africa expansion, the role of CFOs and the Smarter Planet philosophy that is driving IBM.
One of the key phrases in IBM's vocabulary is the Globally Integrated Enterprise, a term coined by a former CEO of the multinational technology and consulting corporation. The concept encourages companies to integrate their production and value delivery worldwide by designing and aligning their strategies, management and operations for this goal. "Not to be arrogant, but this is a process we have been through ourselves and we like to speak to partners about it," Wilkinson said.
Although the American company is known for the manufacturing and marketing of computer hardware and software, it also offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas ranging from nanotechnology to mainframe computers. The Institute for Business Value is "IBM's best kept secret", according to Wilkinson, generating ground breaking reports that have become indispensable for modern CFOs. A more extensive article about the meeting between IBM and CFO SA will be published on this website in the next few weeks.
CFO South Africa has rapidly become the leading CFO community in South Africa. The website connects finance professionals to share knowledge, exchange of interests and open up business opportunities. CFO SA also organizes round tables, executive dinners and other events for CFOs, often partnering with key players in the South African finance world.
In the picture from left to right: Wilfred Ascott (IBM), Melle Eijckelhoff (CFO SA), Lesley-Anne Wilkinson (IBM).
If you also would like to share your ideas with the CFO community, please get in touch with us to arrange an interview. Please contact Jurriën Morsch on [email protected].
