The Times: Trading Places

IBM has appointed Clifford Foster as chief technology officer for IBM Sub-Saharan Africa. Foster has been with IBM for seven of his 17 years in the IT industry, highlighted by his experience in the financial services sector working on projects and an assignment to IBM UK’s consulting business.

Foster joined IBM in 2001 and has since grown within the company to become a distinguished engineer.

In his role as chief technologist, Foster will help devise and create new research and development initiatives and investments in Sub-Saharan Africa, a key growth market for IBM. He will help clients, government agencies, universities, business partners and others understand the full scope of IBM research and innovation initiatives.

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itnewsafrica.com: New IBM CTO to prioritise innovation in Africa

IBM’s newly-appointed Chief Technology Officer, Clifford Foster, has put Africa on his priority list, saying that he will focus on driving innovation through the comapany’s African Innovation Centre (AIC) and various partnerships with universities across the continent.

Outlining his vision after his appointment was announced, Foster said, “My external focus for 2009 will be on driving the AIC concept further into Africa. This is not a South African-centric statement; IBM will be tapping into innovation wherever it happens, foster its growth and turn these ideas into key business concepts.”

The company will, in January 2009, unveil its Second Life island for Sub-Saharan Africa, while Universities of Pretoria and KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa, will be the first centres enabled to build and deliver projects in a virtual world.

IBM will also unveil its second AIC lab, in Nairobi, Kenya, at the beginning of the same year, while Foster will also drive the creation of “speed teams” in universities across the country.

This concept will see students – partnered by an experienced professional – devise an innovative concept and create a program to manage and implement their concept. The project will be unveiled in mid 2009.

IBM has built a cloud at the University of Pretoria to help further its research agendas on cloud computing and he seeks to expand cloud computing services to other universities.

Foster will also work closely with universities to drive a ’services science’ approach to learning.

“This is a key area in universities like Oxford, where there is a drive towards applying services thinking into the curriculum. The University of Pretoria has now included a services-driven course as part of the curriculum in Graduate School.”

“I have to look at how do I grow and develop self-reliant individuals within the space of IBM infrastructure, of course.

“How do I attract the right people through innovation – develop skills and promote the resources we’ve tapped into?” added Foster.

He also announced that emphasis will be put on the nature of innovation in Africa, which will see IBM look at ways of tapping into wider knowledge areas.

“A lot of innovations in Africa cannot be dreamed in a lab. Someone needs to be faced with those particular challenges to devise such innovations. It isn’t always about the latest emerging technology, but it’s also about the small, ubiquitous innovations which change the way people work and live. It’s about making those ideas a reality.” added the company executive.

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ITWeb: Innovation is key for IBM in 2009

Newly appointed CTO of IBM Clifford Foster will focus on driving innovation through its African Innovation Centre (AIC) and partnerships with universities across Africa.

Speaking after the announcement of his appointment, Foster outlined his vision, saying: “My external focus for 2009 will be on driving the AIC concept further into Africa. This is not a South African-centric statement; IBM will be tapping into innovation wherever it happens, foster its growth and turn these ideas into key business concepts.”

First off, will be the unveiling of its Second Life island for Sub-Saharan Africa, in January 2009. The Universities of Pretoria and KwaZulu-Natal will be the first centres enabled to build and deliver projects in a virtual world. IBM will also unveil its second AIC lab, in Nairobi, at the beginning of the year.

Another key project Foster will drive in 2009 is the creation of “speed teams” in universities across the country. This concept will see students – partnered by an experienced professional – devise an innovative concept and create a program to manage and implement their concept. The project will be unveiled mid-year 2009, says Foster.

Cloud computing is another key focus. IBM has built a cloud at the University of Pretoria to help further its research agendas. Foster aims to expand cloud computing services to other universities. Foster will also work closely with universities to drive a 'services science' approach to learning.

“This is a key area in universities like Oxford, where there is a drive towards applying services thinking into the curriculum. The University of Pretoria has now included a services-driven course as part of the curriculum in Graduate School.”

Foster acknowledges some key challenges he will face in his new appointment, saying: “I have to look at how do I grow and develop self-reliant individuals within the space of IBM infrastructure, of course. How do I attract the right people through innovation – develop skills and promote the resources we've tapped into?”

While most of IBM's focus for 2009 will be on innovation in higher education, Foster emphasises that the nature of innovation in Africa will see IBM look at ways of tapping into wider knowledge areas.

“A lot of innovations in Africa cannot be dreamed in a lab. Someone needs to be faced with those particular challenges to devise such innovations. It isn't always about the latest emerging technology, but it's also about the small, ubiquitous innovations which change the way people work and live. It's about making those ideas a reality.”

Original Article

ITWeb: IBM appoints new CTO

IBM has named Clifford Foster as its chief technology officer for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Foster has 17 years' experience in the IT industry and has worked at IBM since 2001. In his role as CTO, Foster will help IBM devise and create new research and development initiatives and investments in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He will also be charged with helping IBM clients, government agencies, universities, business partners and others understand the full scope of IBM research and innovation initiatives.

“Clifford is going to become a champion for IBM technologists in the region to share in IBM's research and development successes, and help them lay a foundation in which to cultivate and grow their own local research and development initiatives. He will make sure the region benefits from innovation occurring around the world,” said Mark Harris, GM of IBM Sub-Saharan Africa.

IBM opened its first Africa Innovation Centre earlier this year and Harris hopes Foster's appointment will increase innovations from the centre, and other facilities such as its Integrated Delivery Centre and Business Continuity and Recovery Services centre.

“Our technical colleagues in growth countries around the world are absolutely critical to IBM's future, yet their technical communities are still relatively young,” notes Foster. “It is up to us to ensure the experience and expertise of our research, development and innovation technologists in local markets gets shared across all of IBM in all countries for the benefit of our clients, economies and communities.”


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