Chris Backer is Business Unit Executive of IBM Z Systems Software and Hybrid Cloud Platform where he leads its global client adoption program and a set of deep subject matter experts are helping clients from all industries around the globe design and implement IT strategies that incorporate cloud capabilities. A 21-year veteran in the IT Industry, Chris has spent his career focused on helping clients increase their competitive advantage through innovative use of automation, analytics and cloud technology.

Chris was previously the Business Unit Executive for IBM Watson Customer Engagement where he led Solution Engineering for IBM's Marketing and Behavioral Analytics portfolio. Under Chris's leadership he led the transition from delivering traditional on-premise capabilities to entirely SaaS based offerings to IBM clients.

Chris has also led a number of Tiger Teams within IBM whose sole purpose is to bring new technology capabilities to market. His experience building and leading innovative first of a kind technology projects spans across mobile application development, IoT, connected vehicle, behavioral analytics, fraud analytics and now hybrid cloud.

An avid outdoors man, Chris enjoys spending his free time exploring all that nature has to offer and when he isn't immersed in technology you will find him in a Jeep traversing trail system's that offer breath taking views and challenging obstacles along the route.