After graduating from Lehigh University with a degree in Economics and Finance, John joined IBM Corporation as a marketing representation in Bethlehem, Pa. He progressed through various staff and management roles in IBM’s Data Processing Division. In 1985, he joined IBM Credit Corporation (now called IBM Global Financing), where he progressed through various executive positions in sales and operations and was named general manager, end-user customer financing, in 1991. In this position, John built IBM’s financing business into an integrated sales, marketing and inventory management organization in support of IBM’s hardware and software businesses. In 1996, John was named general manager, small and medium business, IBM Asia Pacific Corporation, based in Tokyo, Japan. After returning from Tokyo, John has filled roles in marketing and marketing management, including an appointment in 2000 as vice president, marketing and strategy, IBM Systems Group and vice president, marketing On Demand Business for IBM.
John Callies served as general manager, IBM Global Financing from May 2004 till his retirement from IBM on June 1, 2010. With operations in 55 countries supporting 125,000 clients, he led the world’s largest information technology financing and asset management organization.
Following John’s retirement from IBM in 2010, he joined McKinsey and Company as a Senior Advisor. In his capacity with McKinsey, John advises McKinsey’s clients in the business transformations of their sales, marketing and financial functions. He has advised clients in the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, financial services, medical devices and technology sectors.
John has spent a significant amount of his free time working with institutions of higher education as a Chair of the Board of Governors of Fairfield Preparatory School in Fairfield, CT, member of the Advisory Board at Lehigh University and currently as a member of the Advisory Board at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado. In these capacities he has been a frequent speaker in the classroom, mentor for upcoming graduates and catalyst to change the way these institutions prepare their students for future endeavors. In addition to his membership on educational advisory board, John is an independent Director of ePlus, a NASDAQ listed company which provides information management and technology solutions to its clients.
