New Red Hat CEO looks to keep things steady while putting own mark on company

Image Credits: Ron Miller

The new CEO of Red Hat was promoted a month ago and has been on the job for a while now. The previous chairman, Paul Cormier, stepped down to become the chairman.

It is difficult to make a transition like this, but he has his mentor to lean on. There is a line between reassuring customers and employees that there will be stability in the company's leadership and putting his own mark on things.

He said he will follow the same path as Cormier. IBM has allowed Red Hat to be independent for most of the time since it purchased it. Red Hat has remained independent despite IBM selling Red Hat services to take advantage of its sales clout.

In a May interview with me, I was told that the way IBM characterizes Red Hat is that it can't be different from IBM. IBM has standardized on Red Hat as its hybrid platform.

After a long period of stagnant growth, IBM was aided by Red Hat. Big Blue's revenue increased in its most recent earnings report. Red Hat has contributed to IBM's growth strategy.

It is up to Hicks to take Red Hat wherever it goes. I talked to him about the transition to his new role and what it meant for IBM, as well as customers and employees.