Former Federal CIO Joins Salesforce.com

Salesforce.com has hired former U.S. Federal CIO Vivek Kundra, 37, as its EVP of Emerging Markets. Kundra was the first CIO of the United States and was hired by the Obama administration in March 2009. He left this job in August 2011 to become a Joint Fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Berkman Center for Internet and Society. Before serving as the Federal CIO, Kundra was the CTO for the District of Columbia and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Technology for the State of Virginia.

Co-CEOs Resign at RIM

RIM announced that Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie have resigned as Co-CEOs & Co-Chairmen of the company. Lazaridis will stay on the Board as Vice Chairman and Balsillie will serve as a Director. In response to the resignations, the company has named COO Thorsten Heins as CEO of the company. Prior to joining RIM in 2007, Heins served as the CTO of Siemens' Communications Division. Barbara Stymiest, a Board Member since 2007, has been named as the company’s new Independent Chairman.

GM & Ford Veteran Named CIO at Dell

Dell has appointed Adriana Karaboutis as VP & Global CIO. Most recently, Karaboutis was VP of IT at Dell. In this position, she supported product groups, manufacturing, procurement, and supply chain operations. Before joining Dell in 2010, Karaboutis served at the Global Manufacturing & Labor Relations Information Officer at General Motors and held executive positions at Ford. She is a member of the Manufacturing Executive Leadership Board and a past President of the Michigan Council of Women in Technology.

Former Governor Joins Oil & Gas Exploration Company

Continental Resources appointed former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer, 65, to its Board. Schafer was elected North Dakota's 30th governor in 1992 and served for two terms. In 2008, he was nominated and confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. During his term as governor, Schafer also served as Chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, which is comprised of all energy-producing states. Before his political service, he was the President of Gold Seal, a distributor of household products. Schafer was also the co-founder and CEO of Extend America, a telecommunications company focused on rural connectivity in the Midwest.

New CMO at Booking.com

The Priceline Group has promoted Paul Hennessy, 47, to Chief Marketing Officer of Booking.com from his current role as Chief Distribution Officer. Before being named Chief Distribution Officer, he was VP of Rental Cars. Prior to joining Priceline, he was Head of Consumer Marketing at Omnipoint Communications, a wireless network operator. Earlier in his career, Hennessy was GM of Marketing at PT Excelcomindo Pratama, a Verizon joint venture based in Indonesia.

Big Tech Changes at HP

HP announced that Shane Robison, 56, is retiring as EVP and Chief Strategy & Technology Officer. Robison was also responsible for the company’s strategy and corporate development efforts, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, intellectual property licensing, and partnerships. Robison came to HP from Compaq, where he served as the SVP of Technology and CTO. Prior to joining Compaq, he served as the President of Internet Technology and Development at AT&T Labs. He has also held senior positions at Cadence Design Systems and Apple Computer.

IBM Promotes Female Insider to CEO and Board Positions

IBM announced that Virginia Rometty, 53, has been named as the company’s new President, CEO & Director, effective January 1, 2012. She is currently IBM’s SVP and Group Executive for Sales, Marketing & Strategy. Rometty will replace Samuel Palmisano, who will remain as Chairman of the IBM Board. Previously, Rometty served as SVP of IBM Global Business Services. She has also served as GM of IBM Global Services Americas and GM of IBM Global Insurance & Financial Services Sector. Rometty joined IBM in 1981 as a Systems Engineer.

New Chief Medical Officer at Dell

Dell announced that Dr. Andrew Litt has been named as the company’s new Chief Medical Officer. Most recently, Litt served as the Head of Litt Healthcare Ventures, a consulting firm for private equity firms seeking to invest in healthcare. Prior to Litt Healthcare Ventures, he was EVP, Vice Dean & Chief of Staff of New York University’s Langone Medical Center. Before assuming the title of EVP, he served as Vice Chair for Financial Affairs in the Medical Center's Department of Radiology. Litt is a Board Member of CareCore National, a company which provides utilization and quality management programs for managed care companies.

IBM Promotes Female Insider to CEO and Board Positions

IBM announced that Virginia Rometty, 53, has been named as the company’s new President, CEO & Director, effective January 1, 2012. She is currently IBM’s SVP and Group Executive for Sales, Marketing & Strategy. Rometty will replace Samuel Palmisano, who will remain as Chairman of the IBM Board. Previously, Rometty served as SVP of IBM Global Business Services. She has also served as GM of IBM Global Services Americas and GM of IBM Global Insurance & Financial Services Sector. Rometty joined IBM in 1981 as a Systems Engineer.

Chairman of Emerson Electric on IBM Board

IBM announced that it has elected David Farr, 56, to the company’s Board of Directors. Currently, Farr is the Chairman and CEO of Emerson Electric. He also sits on the boards of the Boy Scouts of America and the Municipal Theater Association of St. Louis. He has been with Emerson for more than 25 years and has held a variety of roles, including SVP, COO, Manager of Investor Relations, VP of Corporate Planning and Development, President of the Ridge Tool Division, and Group VP for the Industrial Components and Equipment Business. Earlier in his career, Farr served as a director for the United Way of Greater St. Louis and DPH Holdings Corporation.