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| birth_date =
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| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| alma_mater = [[Rice University]] (BS)<br>[[London School of Economics]]<br>[[Harvard Business School]] (MBA)
| alma_mater = {{ubl|[[Rice University]] (BS)|[[London School of Economics]]|[[Harvard Business School]] (MBA)}}
| title = Interim CEO, [[Unity Technologies]]
| title = Interim CEO, [[Unity Technologies]]
President, [[IBM]]
President, [[IBM]]
}}
}}


'''James Moon Whitehurst''' is an American business executive. He is currently serving as interim CEO and President of [[Unity Technologies]] since October 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-09 |title=Briefing: Unity Ousts CEO, Installing Silver Lake Advisor as Temporary CEO |url=https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/unity-ousts-ceo-installing-silver-lake-advisor-as-temporary-ceo |website=The Information}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-09 |title=Unity Software Says CEO to Exit, Reaffirms Quarterly Guidance |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-09/unity-software-says-ceo-to-exit-reaffirms-quarterly-guidance |access-date=2023-10-09}}</ref> He was previously the President at [[IBM]] and chair of the board at [[Red Hat]], and previously Chief Executive Officer at [[Red Hat]] and Chief Operating Officer at [[Delta Air Lines]]. Prior to working at Delta in 2001, he served as Vice President and Director of the [[Boston Consulting Group]] and held various management roles at its [[Chicago]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Shanghai]] and [[Atlanta]] offices.
'''Jim Whitehurst''' is an American business executive. He has been interim chief executive officer and president of [[Unity Technologies]] since October 2023.<ref name="interim">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-09 |title=Briefing: Unity Ousts CEO, Installing Silver Lake Advisor as Temporary CEO |url=https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/unity-ousts-ceo-installing-silver-lake-advisor-as-temporary-ceo |website=The Information}}</ref><ref name="Bloomberg.com">{{Cite news |date=2023-10-09 |title=Unity Software Says CEO to Exit, Reaffirms Quarterly Guidance |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-09/unity-software-says-ceo-to-exit-reaffirms-quarterly-guidance |access-date=2023-10-09}}</ref> He was previously the president at [[IBM]], chair of the board and chief executive officer at [[Red Hat]], and chief operating officer at [[Delta Air Lines]]. Prior to working at Delta in 2001, he was vice president and director of the [[Boston Consulting Group]] and held various management roles at its [[Chicago]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Shanghai]] and [[Atlanta]] offices.


During his time at Delta between 2005 and 2007, Whitehurst oversaw the company's recovery from [[bankruptcy]], as well as [[History of Delta Air Lines#Failed takeover attempt by US Airways|its struggle]] against [[US Airways]] in 2006, who had [[Takeover#Hostile|repeatedly proposed mergers]] to the company.<ref name="choudhury2016">{{cite web|title=Tipping his hat to the open source model|url=http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/the-raffles-conversation/tipping-his-hat-to-the-open-source-model|first=Amit Roy|last=Choudhury|work=The Business Times|date=April 23, 2016|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>
During his time at Delta between 2005 and 2007, Whitehurst oversaw the company's recovery from [[bankruptcy]] and [[History of Delta Air Lines#Failed takeover attempt by US Airways|its struggle]] against [[US Airways]] in 2006, who had [[Takeover#Hostile|repeatedly proposed mergers]] to the company.<ref name="choudhury2016">{{cite web|title=Tipping his hat to the open source model|url=http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/the-raffles-conversation/tipping-his-hat-to-the-open-source-model|first=Amit Roy|last=Choudhury|work=The Business Times|date=April 23, 2016|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>


In 2013, [[North Carolina]] Governor [[Pat McCrory]] appointed Whitehurst as a member and vice-chairman of the North Carolina Economic Development Board.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.governor.state.nc.us/newsroom/press-releases/20130715/governor-mccrory-announces-appointments|title=Governor McCrory announces appointments|date=July 15, 2013|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316192004/http://www.governor.state.nc.us/newsroom/press-releases/20130715/governor-mccrory-announces-appointments|archive-date=March 16, 2015|access-date=April 17, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130717081041/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/mccrory_names_heavyhitters_to_economic_board|archive-date=July 17, 2013|url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/mccrory_names_heavyhitters_to_economic_board|work=[[The News & Observer]]|title=McCrory names heavy hitters to economic board|first=Rob|last=Christensen|date=July 15, 2013|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref> In 2014, Whitehurst was selected as the recipient of the NC State Park Scholarships program's William C. Friday Award.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
In 2013, [[North Carolina]] Governor [[Pat McCrory]] appointed Whitehurst as a member and vice-chairman of the North Carolina Economic Development Board.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.governor.state.nc.us/newsroom/press-releases/20130715/governor-mccrory-announces-appointments|title=Governor McCrory announces appointments|date=July 15, 2013|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316192004/http://www.governor.state.nc.us/newsroom/press-releases/20130715/governor-mccrory-announces-appointments|archive-date=March 16, 2015|access-date=April 17, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130717081041/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/mccrory_names_heavyhitters_to_economic_board|archive-date=July 17, 2013|url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/mccrory_names_heavyhitters_to_economic_board|work=[[The News & Observer]]|title=McCrory names heavy hitters to economic board|first=Rob|last=Christensen|date=July 15, 2013|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref> In 2014, Whitehurst was selected as the recipient of the NC State Park Scholarships program's William C. Friday Award.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Born in Georgia,<ref name=choudhury2016 /> Whitehurst grew up in [[Columbus, Georgia|Columbus]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].<ref name=dowden2016>{{cite web|url=http://business.financialpost.com/executive/leadership/openness-and-transparency-are-keys-to-success-for-red-hat-ceo|title=Openness and transparency are keys to success for Red Hat CEO|work=Financial Post|date=February 23, 2016|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref> He graduated from [[Rice University]] in [[Houston]], [[Texas]] in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Economics.<ref name=choudhury2016 /><ref name=dowden2016 /> He also attended [[University of Erlangen–Nuremberg]] in [[Erlangen, Germany|Erlangen]], [[Germany]], spent a year of his undergraduate education in the General Course at the [[London School of Economics]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://business.rice.edu/person/jim-whitehurst|title=Jim Whitehurst|date=2017-05-25|work=Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University|access-date=2018-10-29|language=en}}</ref> and received an MBA from [[Harvard Business School]].<ref name=choudhury2016 /><ref name=dowden2016 />
Whitehurst was born in Georgia<ref name=choudhury2016 /> and grew up in [[Columbus, Georgia]].<ref name=dowden2016>{{cite web|url=http://business.financialpost.com/executive/leadership/openness-and-transparency-are-keys-to-success-for-red-hat-ceo|title=Openness and transparency are keys to success for Red Hat CEO|work=Financial Post|date=February 23, 2016|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref> He graduated from [[Rice University]] in [[Houston]], [[Texas]], in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in computer science and economics.<ref name=choudhury2016 /><ref name=dowden2016 /> He also attended [[University of Erlangen–Nuremberg]] in [[Erlangen, Germany]], spent a year of his undergraduate education in the general course at the [[London School of Economics]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://business.rice.edu/person/jim-whitehurst|title=Jim Whitehurst|date=2017-05-25|work=Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University|access-date=2018-10-29|language=en}}</ref> and received an [[MBA]] from [[Harvard Business School]].<ref name=choudhury2016 /><ref name=dowden2016 />


== Career ==
== Career ==
[[File:Jim Whitehurst Keynote 2.jpg|thumb|Whitehurst giving a keynote at the Red Hat Summit in 2010.]]
[[File:Jim Whitehurst Keynote 2.jpg|thumb|Whitehurst giving a keynote at the Red Hat Summit in 2010.]]
After working for the Boston Consulting Group throughout 1989 to 2001, Whitehurst began working for Delta Air Lines,<ref name=high2012>{{cite web|title=Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst Opens Up|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhigh/2012/12/11/red-hat-ceo-jim-whitehurst-opens-up/|work=Forbes|date=December 11, 2012|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref> where he was Senior Vice President, and later Chief Network and Planning Officer.<ref name=choudhury2016 /> He was appointed by then-CEO [[Gerald Grinstein]] in 2005 as Chief Operating Officer, where he oversaw the company's bankruptcy and recovery from an attempted takeover from US Airways. Whitehurst became a prominent figure in the campaign known as "Keep Delta My Delta", having believed in the integrity of the company and its employees enough to resist the merger proposal and resolve the bankruptcy.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} He left the company on good terms in 2007.<ref name=asay2008 />
After working for the Boston Consulting Group throughout 1989 to 2001, Whitehurst began working for Delta Air Lines,<ref name=high2012>{{cite web|title=Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst Opens Up|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhigh/2012/12/11/red-hat-ceo-jim-whitehurst-opens-up/|work=Forbes|date=December 11, 2012|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref> where he was senior vice president, and later chief network and planning officer.<ref name=choudhury2016 /> He was appointed by then-CEO [[Gerald Grinstein]] in 2005 as chief operating officer, where he oversaw the company's bankruptcy and recovery from an attempted takeover from [[US Airways]]. Whitehurst became a prominent figure in the campaign known as "Keep Delta My Delta", having believed in the integrity of the company and its employees enough to resist the merger proposal and resolve the bankruptcy.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} He left the company on good terms in 2007.<ref name=asay2008 />


Whitehurst then joined [[Red Hat]] as CEO in December 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cio.com/article/2437418/it-organization/szulik-out-at-red-hat--former-delta-exec-whitehurst-tapped-as-ceo.html|title=Szulik Out at Red Hat; Former Delta Exec Whitehurst Tapped as CEO|last=Montalbano|first=Nancy Gohring and Elizabeth|work=CIO|access-date=2018-04-17|language=en|archive-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418032642/https://www.cio.com/article/2437418/it-organization/szulik-out-at-red-hat--former-delta-exec-whitehurst-tapped-as-ceo.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=asay2008>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/on-the-record-with-jim-whitehurst-red-hats-new-ceo-i-must-have-a-mission/|title=On the record with Jim Whitehurst, Red Hat's new CEO: 'I must have a mission'|website=CNET|access-date=April 17, 2018|first=Matt|last=Asay|date=January 4, 2008}}</ref><ref name="choudhury2016" />
Whitehurst joined [[Red Hat]] as CEO in December 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cio.com/article/2437418/it-organization/szulik-out-at-red-hat--former-delta-exec-whitehurst-tapped-as-ceo.html|title=Szulik Out at Red Hat; Former Delta Exec Whitehurst Tapped as CEO|last=Montalbano|first=Nancy Gohring and Elizabeth|work=CIO|access-date=2018-04-17|language=en|archive-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418032642/https://www.cio.com/article/2437418/it-organization/szulik-out-at-red-hat--former-delta-exec-whitehurst-tapped-as-ceo.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=asay2008>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/on-the-record-with-jim-whitehurst-red-hats-new-ceo-i-must-have-a-mission/|title=On the record with Jim Whitehurst, Red Hat's new CEO: 'I must have a mission'|website=CNET|access-date=April 17, 2018|first=Matt|last=Asay|date=January 4, 2008}}</ref><ref name="choudhury2016" /> Following [[IBM]]'s acquisition of Red Hat (in July 2019),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.redhat.com/about/companyprofile/facts/ |title=Corporate Facts |publisher=redhat.com |access-date=August 26, 2006}}</ref> later in January 2020 it was announced that Whitehurst will be appointed president of [[IBM]] on 6 April.<ref name="ibm-ceo">{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/30/arvind-krishna-will-replace-ginni-rometty-as-ibm-ceo-in-april/|title=Arvind Krishna will replace Ginni Rometty as IBM CEO in April |website=TechCrunch|access-date=January 30, 2020|first=Ron|last=Miller|date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> In July 2021, Whitehurst announced his resignation from IBM.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vaughan-Nichols|first=Steven J.|title=With Whitehurst stepping down, where do IBM and Red Hat go from here?|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/with-whitehurst-stepping-down-where-do-ibm-and-red-hat-go-from-here/|access-date=2021-07-09|website=ZDNet|language=en}}</ref>


In December 2021, he joined the board of directors at [[Endpoint security|cybersecurity]] and [[systems management]] company [[Tanium]] as an independent director.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-20|title=Jim Whitehurst Joins the Tanium Board of Directors|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211220005504/en/Jim-Whitehurst-Joins-the-Tanium-Board-of-Directors|access-date=2021-12-23|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}</ref> In October 2023, he became interim CEO of Unity Technologies.<ref name="interim" /><ref name="Bloomberg.com"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Witkowski |first=Wallace |title=John Riccitiello, Unity Software's CEO and chairman, is leaving the company |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/unity-softwares-chairman-ceo-john-riccitiello-leaving-company-b1747eca |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=MarketWatch |language=EN-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-09 |title=Unity Software CEO to retire effective immediately |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/unity-software-ceo-retire-effective-immediately-2023-10-09/ |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref> As of 2023, he is also an advisor at the [[private equity]] firm [[Silver Lake (investment firm)|Silver Lake]].<ref name="interim" />
Following [[IBM]]'s acquisition of Red Hat (in July 2019),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.redhat.com/about/companyprofile/facts/ |title=Corporate Facts |publisher=redhat.com |access-date=August 26, 2006}}</ref> later in January 2020 it was announced that Whitehurst will be appointed president of [[IBM]] on 6 April.<ref name="ibm-ceo">{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/30/arvind-krishna-will-replace-ginni-rometty-as-ibm-ceo-in-april/|title=Arvind Krishna will replace Ginni Rometty as IBM CEO in April |website=TechCrunch|access-date=January 30, 2020|first=Ron|last=Miller|date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> On July 2, 2021 Whitehurst announced his resignation from IBM.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vaughan-Nichols|first=Steven J.|title=With Whitehurst stepping down, where do IBM and Red Hat go from here?|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/with-whitehurst-stepping-down-where-do-ibm-and-red-hat-go-from-here/|access-date=2021-07-09|website=ZDNet|language=en}}</ref>

On December 20, 2021, Whitehurst joined the Board of Directors at [[Endpoint security|cybersecurity]] and [[systems management]] company [[Tanium]] as an independent director.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-20|title=Jim Whitehurst Joins the Tanium Board of Directors|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211220005504/en/Jim-Whitehurst-Joins-the-Tanium-Board-of-Directors|access-date=2021-12-23|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}</ref>

October 2023, he became interim CEO of Unity Technologies.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-09 |title=Briefing: Unity Ousts CEO, Installing Silver Lake Advisor as Temporary CEO |url=https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/unity-ousts-ceo-installing-silver-lake-advisor-as-temporary-ceo |website=The Information}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-09 |title=Unity Software Says CEO to Exit, Reaffirms Quarterly Guidance |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-09/unity-software-says-ceo-to-exit-reaffirms-quarterly-guidance |access-date=2023-10-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Witkowski |first=Wallace |title=John Riccitiello, Unity Software's CEO and chairman, is leaving the company |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/unity-softwares-chairman-ceo-john-riccitiello-leaving-company-b1747eca |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=MarketWatch |language=EN-US}}</ref>


== Publications ==
== Publications ==
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[[Category:American chief operating officers]]
[[Category:American chief operating officers]]
[[Category:American technology chief executives]]
[[Category:American technology chief executives]]
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Latest revision as of 19:02, 13 January 2024

Jim Whitehurst
Whitehurst in 2019
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater
TitleInterim CEO, Unity Technologies President, IBM

Jim Whitehurst is an American business executive. He has been interim chief executive officer and president of Unity Technologies since October 2023.[1][2] He was previously the president at IBM, chair of the board and chief executive officer at Red Hat, and chief operating officer at Delta Air Lines. Prior to working at Delta in 2001, he was vice president and director of the Boston Consulting Group and held various management roles at its Chicago, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Atlanta offices.

During his time at Delta between 2005 and 2007, Whitehurst oversaw the company's recovery from bankruptcy and its struggle against US Airways in 2006, who had repeatedly proposed mergers to the company.[3]

In 2013, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory appointed Whitehurst as a member and vice-chairman of the North Carolina Economic Development Board.[4][5] In 2014, Whitehurst was selected as the recipient of the NC State Park Scholarships program's William C. Friday Award.[citation needed]

Early life[edit]

Whitehurst was born in Georgia[3] and grew up in Columbus, Georgia.[6] He graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas, in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in computer science and economics.[3][6] He also attended University of Erlangen–Nuremberg in Erlangen, Germany, spent a year of his undergraduate education in the general course at the London School of Economics,[7] and received an MBA from Harvard Business School.[3][6]

Career[edit]

Whitehurst giving a keynote at the Red Hat Summit in 2010.

After working for the Boston Consulting Group throughout 1989 to 2001, Whitehurst began working for Delta Air Lines,[8] where he was senior vice president, and later chief network and planning officer.[3] He was appointed by then-CEO Gerald Grinstein in 2005 as chief operating officer, where he oversaw the company's bankruptcy and recovery from an attempted takeover from US Airways. Whitehurst became a prominent figure in the campaign known as "Keep Delta My Delta", having believed in the integrity of the company and its employees enough to resist the merger proposal and resolve the bankruptcy.[citation needed] He left the company on good terms in 2007.[9]

Whitehurst joined Red Hat as CEO in December 2007.[10][9][3] Following IBM's acquisition of Red Hat (in July 2019),[11] later in January 2020 it was announced that Whitehurst will be appointed president of IBM on 6 April.[12] In July 2021, Whitehurst announced his resignation from IBM.[13]

In December 2021, he joined the board of directors at cybersecurity and systems management company Tanium as an independent director.[14] In October 2023, he became interim CEO of Unity Technologies.[1][2][15][16] As of 2023, he is also an advisor at the private equity firm Silver Lake.[1]

Publications[edit]

Whitehurst's first book, The Open Organization: Igniting Passion and Performance, was published in 2015 by Harvard Business Review.[17][18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Briefing: Unity Ousts CEO, Installing Silver Lake Advisor as Temporary CEO". The Information. 2023-10-09.
  2. ^ a b "Unity Software Says CEO to Exit, Reaffirms Quarterly Guidance". Bloomberg.com. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Choudhury, Amit Roy (April 23, 2016). "Tipping his hat to the open source model". The Business Times. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  4. ^ "Governor McCrory announces appointments" (Press release). Raleigh, North Carolina. July 15, 2013. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  5. ^ Christensen, Rob (July 15, 2013). "McCrory names heavy hitters to economic board". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on July 17, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Openness and transparency are keys to success for Red Hat CEO". Financial Post. February 23, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  7. ^ "Jim Whitehurst". Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University. 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  8. ^ "Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst Opens Up". Forbes. December 11, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Asay, Matt (January 4, 2008). "On the record with Jim Whitehurst, Red Hat's new CEO: 'I must have a mission'". CNET. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  10. ^ Montalbano, Nancy Gohring and Elizabeth. "Szulik Out at Red Hat; Former Delta Exec Whitehurst Tapped as CEO". CIO. Archived from the original on 2018-04-18. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  11. ^ "Corporate Facts". redhat.com. Retrieved August 26, 2006.
  12. ^ Miller, Ron (January 31, 2020). "Arvind Krishna will replace Ginni Rometty as IBM CEO in April". TechCrunch. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  13. ^ Vaughan-Nichols, Steven J. "With Whitehurst stepping down, where do IBM and Red Hat go from here?". ZDNet. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  14. ^ "Jim Whitehurst Joins the Tanium Board of Directors". www.businesswire.com. 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  15. ^ Witkowski, Wallace. "John Riccitiello, Unity Software's CEO and chairman, is leaving the company". MarketWatch. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  16. ^ "Unity Software CEO to retire effective immediately". Reuters. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  17. ^ "What is The Open Organization?". Opensource.com. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  18. ^ "The Open Organization: Igniting Passion and Performance". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved May 1, 2015.

External links[edit]

Business positions
Preceded by President and CEO of Red Hat
December 20, 2007 – April 6, 2020
Succeeded by