IBM Parts With Robert Schwartz, Head of Internal Agency iX

By Patrick Coffee 

IBM made a big internal move last week by formally saying goodbye to Robert Schwartz, the global leader of agency services for its IBM iX division.

Why does that matter? Because his were the humans/machines taking your jobs.

As Business Insider explained last year, iX was the tech company’s internal shop, used for “cutting out traditional advertising agencies” with digital expertise drawn from more than 10,000 employees around the world.

Advertisement

You may, for example, recall when iX acquired Resource/Ammirati and two other shops in 2016 or the fact that it worked with some of the world’s biggest brands like GM, Unilever and Nestle.

The idea was to tie the organization’s primary IT functions into creative work, and Schwartz was brought on to guide those efforts that same year. He brought plenty of experience along as he’d previously been senior partner, worldwide managing director at Ogilvy and helped run the WPP conglomerate Team IHG.

The company made his departure official in a blog post last week, with marketing services leader Amanda Thurston writing, “Robert—you have left your mark on our team and this little program. You will be sorely missed, but your voice and your lessons will live on in all those inspired by you.”

It’s not clear at this time why Schwartz left or where he’s going. IBM representatives have not responded to multiple emails and calls seeking comment.

It’s also unclear whether Schwartz’s departure will have any effect on IBM iX’s relationships with its clients. But it reportedly won’t affect AOR Ogilvy, which brought on former m:united//mccann president John Dunleavy to lead the account earlier this week.

Advertisement