Larry Hirst’s Retirement

Perhaps you never met Larry Hirst, who was the IBM UK Country General Manager for some years.
He recently circulated this note, associated with his retirement.
Some of you may already have seen it, but I thought it worth circulating because many will not have seen this insight into the IBM UK world in more recent times.

From: Larry Hirst
Date: Friday, 25 June, 2010, 17:17
Dear Friends,
Having written many farewell letters and given many farewell speeches at the retirements of others, it is now time to write the hardest one of all - my own. The time is now right for me to retire from IBM and begin the next phase of my life. Hopefully for the recipients of this note, this will be Vale and not goodbye.
For those of you not familiar with my native Yorkshire dialect, let me translate the title of this note. It simply means ‘who ever could have imagined?’ These words were used by the Chief Executive of a Newspaper Group who was introducing me to the audience of a Business Awards ceremony in my home City. He read my biography, and told the assembly that this ‘Local boy’ was replacing the advertised speaker, Lord Mandelson, who had cancelled. The remark was made in reference to the fact that I was raised in an infamously tough local housing estate and yet had managed to do many things that seemed impossible, even today.
This comment sparked my emotions. I changed the beginning of my speech and pointed out that this is exactly the kind of thinking that prevents everybody reaching their true potential no matter where they are from. It’s not what you are, it’s who you are and who you can become.
This has been the Mantra of my life. Diversity, equality, inclusion.
So ‘who da thought ‘ that this ‘kid from the back streets’ would follow Vladamir Putin onto a stage and present to a King, seven heads of state and 300+ business leaders in Helsinki about making the Baltic Sea cleaner and safer.
This has been made possible by the people and the institution of IBM. Great friends, great colleagues, great bosses, great mentors, great customers. When people ask me why I stayed 33 years I simply answer: ‘Everyday I got to work in a value system that matched my own, with outstanding people who became my closest friends.’
For me, life is a journey, a sequence of long walks. This one - in IBM - has taken me across continents and cultures, each step a chance to learn and grow. The recipients of this note are a reflection of the many wonderful experiences I have had. Thank you to all my friends, I have learned so much from you and enjoyed your company. You are what made this long walk so very special, you are what makes IBM what it is. Thank you for allowing me to walk alongside you. (Of course, it hasn’t always been plain sailing: as Winston Churchill said: ‘enemies are the only true measure that you stood up for anything in life’ and, to them, I say an even greater thank you - as they taught me even more!)
There are so many memories that will stay with me forever: I would like to share some recent ones that I have been privileged to be a part of through the roles I have been given whilst at IBM.
In my current role as EMEA Chairman I recently gave a speech in Zurich at a Business Leader’s Forum on Business Transformation. In the audience was one of my most important role models, Kap Cassani, former IBM SVP and Chairman of EMEA. I asked him how I had done and he replied: “You were the only one to talk about the importance of people and you made old Kap proud.”
Two years ago, when I was CGM, another of my role models and mentors, Sir Edwin Nixon, died. I was privileged to know him and proud to follow in his footsteps as the leader of IBM in the UK where he still is a business legend. But imagine the honour when his family asked me to give a eulogy at his Memorial Service in Winchester Cathedral. Nearly 2000 people attended the service, the majority of them IBMers both past and present, spanning more than 60 years. As I walked down the aisle at the end of the ceremony I saw sad but proud faces, all-as-one celebrating the life of a great man and a great company. I will never forget this moment.
High profile events, high-profile people. But there’s another example I’d like to call out. Through the work I have been involved in as leader of our education community, following one of my regular visits to schools in deprived areas, a 10 year old girl of African origin wrote to tell me that I was going to be her role model forever and she would follow in my footsteps. Now there’s truly a great partner to have on the next phase of my journey.
Little wonder, then, that my favourite book is Nelson Mandela’s ‘Long Walk to Freedom.’
Who knows where my next walk will take me? All I know is that I will never stop believing that it’s all about People, Pride, Passion and Performance. I know that our paths will cross again and I look forward to that with a smile IBM Retirees.
In closing I am reminded of one last story. In his first day inside IBM Lou Gerstner said to me: “What’s an IBMer? There are no GEers or Kodakers!” I told him that I hoped that one day he would find out. In his last Dear Colleague letter he wrote: “I am proud to be an IBMer.”
I cannot think of a better line to close on. I am proud to have been and always will be, deep down, an IBMer.
Good Luck, Safe & Successful Journeys, and stay in touch.
Fondest Regards,
Larry Hirst
Chairman, IBM EMEA

And finally ………..
A request. We would be most grateful if people would not bring any hot food on to the coaches when on trips – especially anything that may be rather smelly e.g. fish and chips. Your co-operation on this would be much appreciated.

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