In a previous post about IBM's latest reorganization, I noted that our last System i general manager, Mark Shearer, seemed to be in a bit of limbo when it came to a new position at IBM. Although there was never a doubt that Shearer would work for IBM, for a while we had a little trouble getting some confirmed answers about which role he would play. Then, when IBM's shift kicked loose Marc Dupaquier, who essentially seemed to take on a role that could have been filled by Shearer, I was really curious about which executives IBM would send to COMMON.

As for Shearer, his new official title is "Vice President, Marketing and Offerings, Business Systems, IBM Systems and Technology Group."

What's interesting about Shearer's new position is that, on one hand, it seems as if it's a demotion. Yet on the other hand, Shearer's scope of responsibility has seemingly expanded...