IBM Champions

IBM Champions are individuals, non-IBMer and recognized professionals in the IBM community.

History and Organization

introduced the IBM Champion program back in 2008, initially only in the IBM Information Management Software division. The program describes itself as:
As of 2024, the program has elected 1247 professionals across the globe.
Originally, champions were divided by categories:

IBM Data & AI Champions
IBM Cloud Champions
IBM Power Systems Champions
IBM Storage Champions
IBM Z Champions
IBM Security Champions
IBM Developer Champions
IBM Partner Ecosystems Champions
IBM AI Applications and Blockchain

IBM Champions are nominated by their peers. An IBM internal committee publishes the results once a year and the title is valid for one year. The champion needs to be nominated every year, with the exception of Lifetime IBM Champions.

Lifetime IBM Champions

In 2016, in addition to being elected as an IBM Champion on a yearly basis, IBM announced the entitlement for a lifetime achievement to the following personalities :
Collaboration Solutions

Gabriella Davis
Theo Heselmans
Julian Robichaux
Paul Withers
Roberto Mazzoni
Richard Moy
Daniel Nashed

Power

Pete Massiello
Rob McNelly
Jaqueline Lynch

Cloud and Automation

Alex Ivanov
Tiago Moura
Chikako Inami
Harald Biedermann
Paul Cortellesi
Morag Hughson
Greg Hodgkinson

Data & AI

Klaas Brant
Stuart Litel - now an IBMer and an alumnus of the IBM Champions program
Cindy Lichtenauer
Scott Hayes
Lester Knutsen
Martin Hubel
Mark Lack
Dave Beulke - also an IBM Champion for Security and IBM Z
Jean-Georges Perrin
Heather Cole
John Hassman

IBM Z

Dusty Rivers
Darren Surch
Rituraj Mahato

Storage

Bob Oesterlin
Simon Thompson - also an IBM Champion for Power

Security

Stacy Lee
Stacey Gregerson