The search for a new chief executive for IBM Corp has moved into top gear and could be complete by the end of next month, the Wall Street Journal reports: it notes that by hiring two firms, IBM gave itself maximum scope – and also upset the search industry because search firms are barred from approaching a company they have worked for for two years after a placement, and barred for life from approaching an individual they once placed, so each of IBM’s two can pass on such names to the other; names mentioned as possibly on the short-list are Paul Stern, lately of Northern Telecom Ltd and seen as having enemies among IBM’s present top brass; Perot Systems Corp chairman Morton Meyerson, Motorola Inc chief executive George Fisher and Louis Gerstner, chairman of RJR Nabisco Inc.
