John Soyring

John Soyring provided global business leadership for the industry solutions & industry products portion of IBM’s global software business. This role included functional leadership for strategy, research & development, marketing & sales, business development, product support, and services related to the IBM offerings for all industries. He was also the co-leader of the Alliance of IBM Software Group and IBM Global Business Services Group. John was a member of the IBM Industry Academy Advisory Board, the IBM Eco-Efficiency & Sustainability Executive Board, and the IBM “Banking the Unbanked” Executive Board.

John was co-founder and the senior global executive for the IBM Software Services and Support business unit, a global IBM business with the mission of developing and delivering fee-based professional services for IBM’s clients and business partners to help these companies design, develop and deploy business solutions using IBM’s family of software products.

John joined IBM during April 1976 after graduating with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Michigan Technological University. While at IBM he continued his graduate studies in the fields of computer science, electrical engineering and business administration at the University of Minnesota and State University of New York. He also completed executive education programs at the Harvard Business Schools and the London School of Economics. He has received honorary doctorates of engineering from Michigan Technological University and Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (which was renamed during 2009 as the National Research Nuclear University).

During his career with IBM he has held a variety of technical, professional, managerial and executive positions within the company, including: leading IBM’s programming centers in Charlotte, North Carolina (retail banking software) and Austin, Texas (personal computer software); leading the worldwide OEM sales business for personal computer software; leading the worldwide strategic relations business for personal computer software; leading the worldwide professional services business for network computing software; and was vice president of IBM worldwide e-business operating systems solutions.

John is a member of the Industry Advisory Council of the American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES). He is also a member of both the Campaign Fund Committee and the College of Engineering Industry Advisory Board at Michigan Technological University.

John lives primarily in Austin, Texas and Skanee, Michigan. He currently spends his time pursuing his top priority life passions, which include a variety of philanthropic activities and investing in companies aligned with his personal objectives.