IBMs Paul Horn to Retire

For 11 years, Horn oversaw IBM's research division, working on projects such as the Deep Blue and Blue Gene supercomputers.

Paul Horn, who led IBMs research division for more than decade, is stepping down to pursue a career in academics at New York University, the Armonk, N.Y. company announced July 17.

Horn, 60, took the helm of IBM Research in 1996, and helped develop and oversee several major projects for IBM, including its Deep Blue and Blue Gene supercomputers. John Kelly has been tapped to lead the research division and will continue to head IBMs intellectual property division.

In a memo sent to IBM employees July 17, Executive Vice President Nick Donofrio wrote that Horns 28-year career at IBM saw the company greatly expand its research and development capabilities, while bringing new products, from supercomputers to copper chips, to the market.

"Under his bold and visionary leadership, IBM Research forged a deep portfolio of technological breakthroughs, innovations and research disciplines that not only grew our systems, software and services businesses, but differentiated IBM products and services in the marketplace," Donofrio wrote.

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Click here to read an eWEEK interview with Paul Horn.

"Deep Blue, Blue Gene, the copper chip, the giant magneto-resistive head and autonomic computing are among the many breakthroughs from this period that enhanced our brand image and restored IBM as a technology leader and world-class innovator," Donofrio added.

Recently, Horn had been involved in developing a services science curriculum at several major universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

"Services is like software was," Horn said in a 2004 interview with eWEEK.

"Everyone says theres no intellectual property in services," Horn added. "There are no services guys in the IBM Academy, theres no discipline in a university called services, theres no services science. But its the biggest piece of the U.S. economy, but you cant take a course in it. Its one of those amazing things that weve got this huge sector and information technology can actually be hugely differential in services."

Click here to read more about IBM Research.

Horn will stay on to help during the transition, the company said. In September, he will take up his new post as a Distinguished Scientist in Residence at NYU and will work at the Stern School of Business, the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and the Graduate School of Arts and Science.

Horn is also planning to hit the lecture circuit and is planning to write several books.

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