Altman named to lead IBM mainframe unit

Anne Altman, formerly vice president and managing director of IBM's U.S. Federal division, has been named general manager of IBM's mainframe platform technology business.

Her new role is part of a yearlong general transformation to make IBM's Systems and Technology Group more client-focused. It's the largest such realignment in 15 years, said Lia Davis, an IBM spokeswoman.

Altman will be responsible for developing, creating and marketing IBM's System z, an advanced mainframe business computer that serves as a critical growth engine for the company, Davis said.

Altman also will be responsible for numerous other duties, including product competitiveness, program profitability, sales support, market-based portfolio management and quality management.

Altman's replacement as head of the federal division will be announced soon, Davis said.

The STG transformation includes the creation of four client divisions, each headed by a general manager: Enterprise Systems, Business Systems, Industry Systems and Microelectronics. The four new platform units ? Mainframe, Power Systems, Modular Systems and Storage ? will support the divisions' sales efforts.

IBM of Armonk, N.Y., ranks No. 18 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.