Bob Carlson

A seasoned VP at IBM, Bob Carlson is responsible for the technical and business strategy for a project called "WebFountain" at the company's Almaden Research Center in San Jose. Based on three years research in various computer science disciplines at IBM, WebFountain is a combination of advanced technology, vast data sources and key applications which offers companies the ability to quickly discover business insight and then transform their processes, strategies and decision-making based on that insight. Potential applications for WebFountain include marketing and strategic planning, research and discovery, and supporting data-intensive operations. Carlson's team of researchers and consultants is currently working with beta customers to extend the platform's capabilities to new applications in multiple industries.

Carlson has held various positions within IBM since joining the company in 1995. Most recently he was the global services leader for a large pharmaceutical company. Prior to this role, he led IBM's solution strategy for the public sector. Previous to IBM, Carlson ran his own consulting company which was later acquired by IBM. He started his career with Andersen Consulting.