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A research executive who has been with IBM for over 20 years was named Chief Information Officer on Monday. Kathryn Guarini succeeds Fletcher Previn, who has left the company to pursue other opportunities.

“Under Fletcher’s leadership, the Chief Information Office (CIO) has gone through a significant transformation,” said Jim Kavanaugh, CFO at IBM, in a . “Throughout his tenure, Fletcher has provided invaluable thought leadership, creativity, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit to the CIO, IBM and the industry as a whole. I can't thank him enough for his contributions.”

Guarini joined IBM in 1999 as a research staff member after earning her PhD in applied physics from Stanford University. She slowly made her way up the company, holding multiple leadership positions. Most recently before becoming CIO, she served as the Chief Operations Officer for IBM Research and Vice President of Impact Science.

“As we determined our next CIO, it was important to identify a leader who could continue our transformational journey, is technically eminent and has a proven track record in building organizational capability,” Kavanaugh. “Kathryn has held various technical, management and executive positions in research and development during her 20+ year tenure in IBM.”

Guarini is actively involved in the mentoring space for women in science and engineering and regularly blogs on her website .