Former IBM executive Rashik Parmar has been named the new CEO of BCS, the chartered institute for IT.
Parmar, who was VP for technology in the EMEA region at IBM, takes over from acting CEO Rob Deri, and will assume his new post on 1 October. Deri will remain part of the BCS leadership team.
BCS President Mayank Prakash said: “The selection of Rashik Parmar as the new CEO marks the start of a new chapter for BCS.
“I am delighted that Rashik brings us an unrivalled level of experience gained from a distinguished career in international technology leadership. He has the vision to grow and broaden the impact of BCS as technology plays a pivotal role in solving mankind’s biggest challenges, like providing universal access to good health, food and water, education, safety and information.”
Who is the new BCS CEO?
In four decades with Big Blue, Parmar “helped drive its European technical strategy with a focus on guiding companies toward digital transformation and cloud computing”, BCS says.
A Fellow of both IBM and BCS, he was made an MBE for helping businesses and for his work at IBM’s Academy of Technology. He is also a visiting professor at Imperial College London, and chaired the employment and skills panel of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership for seven years.
Parmar chairs BCS’ Fellows Technical Advisory Group (F-TAG) group, which explains the opportunities and challenges of emerging technologies, and has been a BCS member since 1981.
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“I became a member of BCS as a student because I wanted to show my commitment to making IT Good for Society, as well as being proud to have professional recognition,” Parmar said. “Even then it was clear that computing and tech would shape the world’s future.
“We’re still just beginning to see the full potential of digitisation to solve the world’s great challenges in a sustainable way. So I want BCS to be the home for every tech professional who recognises the power we have to transform lives and who wants to have a say in how that power is used.
“Let’s create a global community of trusted, ethical professionals from cyber security to climate change, who all care about growing diversity and inclusion in their fields, and closing the digital divide.”
What will the new BCS CEO’s priorities be?
BCS has 60,000 members across 150 countries. Parmar will lead its efforts to deliver on its four strategic aims, or pillars, which involve developing its membership, helping technologists progress their careers, inspiring people to consider jobs in IT, and lobbying on behalf of the sector.
Chair of the BCS Council, Sharon Moore MBE, added: “As our voice and impact continues to grow on the key issues, Rashik will accelerate the next stage of our development and guide the IT profession through its most exciting and influential era. The entire BCS community of technologists – who are reshaping the future of industries – is looking forward to supporting him to make that happen.”
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