IBM Vice President Moves to Rival Dell

The architect of International Business Machines Corp.’s rebound in the data storage business, James Vanderslice, has left the company to become a vice chairman at rival Dell Computer Corp., in the latest of a series of setbacks for the world’s largest computer maker.

Vanderslice, an IBM senior vice president, was head of its technology group and point man on several multibillion-dollar IBM component supply deals this year.

Dell, the world’s No. 2 personal computer maker, said Vanderslice would replace Vice Chairman Mort Topfer, who plans to retire from Dell at the end of 2001, when he will be 65 years old.

Vanderslice, 59, will join Chief Executive Michael Dell and Kevin Rollins, another company vice chairman, in Dell’s three-member office of the chief executive.

Separately, IBM said Vanderslice’s departure came as a plan to reshuffle several senior executives was underway.

IBM said it had shifted Linda Sanford, chief of the company’s sales force, to focus solely on the IBM storage business. Nick Donofrio, head of IBM’s research division, was named to replace Vanderslice as head of the technology components unit.

IBM shares inched up 70 cents to close at $109.70 on the New York Stock Exchange, while Dell closed up 19 cents at $41.75 on Nasdaq.