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Larry Hirst, General Manager, IBM United Kingdom Limited Chair, e-skills UK

Larry Hirst is the General Manager for IBM's operations in the UK and is responsible for overall business strategy, community programmes and a workforce of approximately 20,000 employees. Larry’s responsibilities also cover IBM’s operations in South Africa and Ireland and the Netherlands where he is currently the Chairman. He is also the Executive leader for the People with Disabilities Networking Group for IBM Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA).

Prior to taking up his current position in July 2001, Larry was Vice President, Financial Services Sector, IBM EMEA. He was also chairman of the e-learning Board for IBM EMEA where he led initiatives that helped schools implement technology-enabled learning environments, assisted governments in developing the skills of their employees and citizens, and enabled companies of all sizes to transform their workforce to acquire skills and access knowledge on demand.

Having joined the company as a sales trainee in London in 1977, Larry then enjoyed a position as Executive Assistant to the Chairman in IBM’s Headquarters. Prior to that, in 1989/90 he was Director of Operations for IBM in Eastern Europe and Russia. He has also had responsibility for IBM's laboratories in Germany, Spain and the UK.

In addition to his IBM responsibilities, Larry was appointed in 2004, Chairman of e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for IT, Telecoms and Contact Centres. This organisation unites employers, educators and government on a common, employer-led agenda for skills-improvement in the UK. Until 2006, he was chairman of the Information Age Partnership Executive, an organisation formed in 1998 by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) with a mission to help the UK achieve leadership as an e-economy.

During 2006, Larry was appointed as Chairman of the 'Transition to Teaching' steering committee by the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon. Alan Johnson MP. This committee will enable employees with science and maths degrees to enter the teaching profession as a second career, to help fill skills gaps within the profession and to bring applied science, technology, engineering and maths experience into the classroom.

Also in 2006, Larry was appointed CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the New Year Honours List, in recognition of his services to the IT industry.

Last modified: 17 Mar 2008