Bridget van Kralingen is Senior Vice President, Industry Platforms, a new IBM business created in August 2016 to build a range strategic business and technology capabilities designed as cloud platforms and solutions, by industry. This new business is launching two new opportunity areas for IBM -- Watson Financial Services, with responsibility for strategy, solutions and operational performance in IBM's largest industry segment; and the companywide mission for blockchain solutions, spanning R&D to go to market for the technology that holds the potential to do for trusted transactions what the Internet has done for information. In her new role Bridget is also responsible for IBM's strategic partnerships and alliances with industry leaders like Apple, SAP, Workday and Salesforce.

Prior to this appointment, Bridget was SVP, IBM Global Business Services, responsible for the strategy, execution and business results of IBM’s consulting, systems integration, digital agency, business process outsourcing and application management services businesses across all industries. GBS brings clients the expertise of more than 100,000 consultants and practitioners creating value at the intersection of business insight and information technology.

As global leader of GBS, Bridget also co-led the industry mission across IBM -- spanning industry strategy, points of view, financial performance, business development talent and IBM's operational performance. She led the build-out of multiple market-leading capabilities, all at leading edge of the clients' business agenda: The landmark partnership between Apple and IBM has lifted IBM to leadership in the market for enterprise mobility; establishing IBM Interactive Experience as the industry's foremost digital agency; and launching the world's first and largest consulting practice dedicated to cognitive business.

Previously, Bridget was General Manager, IBM North America, responsible for revenue, profit and client satisfaction for the full range of IBM's business in the United States and Canada. Before that, she led Global Business Services in Northeast Europe, Middle East and Africa. Bridget brings more than 20 years consulting experience to her current role. She joined IBM in April 2004 as global Managing Partner of the Financial Services Sector, following her tenure at Deloitte Consulting, where she was Managing Partner of the Financial Services Sector. She is a trained psychologist and began her career as a researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Bridget is a member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Bank of Canada.

In addition, Bridget sponsors IBM’s pro-bono initiative in microfinance, which has created a cloud-based microfinance technology platform for Latin America and an open source microfinance core banking application with the Grameen Foundation. The initiative has also designed loan products and the operating model for microfinance in South Africa.

Since 2011, Bridget has been listed as one of Fortune Magazine's "50 Most Powerful Women in Business." She was named by Euromoney magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in Finance in 2005 and one of Consulting Magazine’s Top 25 Consultants for 2006. She holds a Masters of Commerce degree from the University of South Africa and Bachelors of Commerce degree from the University of Witwatersrand.

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