The Oxford Guild is very excited to welcome Larry Hirst CBE, former Chairman of IBM EMEA, to speak on Thursday 7th May. This will be an incredibly insightful talk and is not one to be missed, especially for anyone interested in technology, business, or issues of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The event will include a Q&A session open to the floor, and promises to cover a wide range of topics, as Larry discusses his high-profile and varied career. ALL ARE WELCOME!
DATE: Thursday 7th May 2015 (2nd Week)
TIME: 6:40pm
VENUE: Habakkuk Room, Jesus College
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE: http://tinyurl.com/LarryHirstIBMGuildTalk
Until his retirement from IBM in July 2010, Larry Hirst was chairman of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). He represented IBM to the European Commission and other authorities such as NATO and the EDA on issues of international public policy and business regulation. During his time as Chairman, IBM EMEA revenues grew to $35bn, with a workforce of 110,000 people. Previous roles in his 33-year career included Chairman of IBM Netherlands (2002-2010), the leadership of IBM’s business in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands and South Africa (2002-2008).
He has been Chairman of the Transition to Teaching Committee, reporting to the Secretary of State for Education, a Commissioner for the Governments Employment and Skills Council. He was the Chairman of the UK Trade and Investment Executive Board, reporting to the Minister for Trade. He was the Chairman of e-skills the Sector Skills Council from 2003 to 2010.
He is a non-executive director of ARM Holdings plc. and MITIE Group plc., and is a Member of the British Airways International Advisory Board. He is an adjunct Professor and Chairman of the Data Sciences Institute at Imperial College (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/data-science) and a member of the Government Cyber Research Council.
Larry is passionate about the issues of diversity and inclusion and is an Ambassador to the Everywoman company (https://www.everywoman.com/) and Black British Business Awards (http://www.thebbbawards.com/), as well as a supporter of groups including the Asian Business Networks Association, the European Women’s Achievement Award, the Afro Caribbean Group, Stonewall, Whitehall in Industry, Asian Business Women, and Investors in Diversity.
Outside the UK, Larry has been an Advisor to the Presidential Advisory Council on Information Society and Development (PIAC) in South Africa.
In December 2009, he was announced as a private sector Business Ambassador by the UK Prime Minister, a role created to promote UK excellence. He stepped down from this role in 2013.
Larry was appointed C.B.E. in 2006, in recognition of Services to the IT industry.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE: http://tinyurl.com/LarryHirstIBMGuildTalk
