IBM group strives to better service to citizens

IBM Corp. has created a new strategy group to work with public- and private-sector industry leaders to improve public-sector service to citizens.

The organization, known as the Global Leadership Initiative, features a cadre of senior experts, including former presidential appointees, career civil servants and private-sector industry leaders, the company said.

IBM has tapped former Commerce Department Chief Financial Officer W. Scott Gould to head the group. His most recent position was chief executive officer of the O'Gara Group, a Washington company specializing in homeland security.

Gould will serve as vice president for public-sector strategy and change with IBM Business Consulting Services. He also will be a senior fellow at the IBM Center for the Business of Government in Washington.

The Global Leadership Initiative is supported by IBM's various corporate divisions and research arms as well as external organizations, such as the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the National Academy of Sciences.

The organizations will contribute information on innovation, IT and business transformation consulting services to assist public leaders in identifying and solving critical problems more effectively and efficiently.

IBM of Armonk, N.Y. has more than 255,000 employees and annual sales of $89.1 billion. The company ranked No. 11 on Washington Technology's 2004 Top 100 list, which measures federal contracting revenue.