IBM Corp’s management committee is getting a bit top-heavy with the addition of three more executives, Robert LaBant, 47, general manager IBM North America, Ned Lautenbach, 48, former president of Asia Pacific, and Patrick Toole, 55, head of manufacturing, joining chairman John Akers, president Jack Kuehler and chief financial officer Frank Metz: it is thought that LaBant or Lautenbach could be being groomed to succeed Akers, although if Akers is forced out in the next month or two, all bets would be off; James Cannavino and Nicholas Donofrio are also mentioned in some quarters as possible successors, but most observers are convinced IBM, whose shares dipped to a new 17-year low of $46 even at one point on Friday, now needs to bring in an outsider.
