IBM Champion Spotlight: Abhishek Anand
A Lifelong Advocate for IBM Z & LinuxONE
This month, we celebrate Abhishek Anand, an IBM Champion whose love for IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE is matched only by his dedication to sharing them both with the world. He serves as Country Technology Leader for IBM Z & LinuxONE at Saudi Business Machines (SBM), where his advocacy is rooted not in job titles, but in deep, decades-old conviction in these mainframe technologies.
A Technology Built on Conviction
For Abhishek, the favorites are IBM Z & LinuxONE, and his reasoning is deeply personal. The so-called “old” technology is responsible for processing 87% of all transactions in the world, and for Abhishek, that is not a legacy statistic, it is proof of unmatched scale, security, and reliability. From AI inferencing to quantum-safe cryptography, IBM Z and LinuxONE have continuously reinvented themselves across sixty years, a rare example of forward engineering that anticipates the future rather than reacting to it.
As Abhishek often tells his clients and colleagues: when the requirement is quantum-grade security with absolute reliability, the conversation always leads back to IBM Z or IBM LinuxONE. “That is not a sales pitch”, he mentioned, “but a pattern I observed across every major enterprise engagement in my career.”
His Favorite Type of Advocacy
Abhishek's advocacy thrives through speaking, where he brings complex technology to life for audiences ranging from architects to C-suite leaders. "There is something irreplaceable about standing in front of an audience and watching the moment a complex technology concept clicks for someone," he shares. Beyond the stage, he reaches the community through LinkedIn articles, blogs, and the IBM TechXchange Community, ensuring IBM Z and LinuxONE remain accessible and relevant in a region where Saudi Vision 2030 is reshaping the technology landscape at remarkable speed.
His Proud Accomplishment
Among the many accolades Abhishek has earned across his career, including the IBM Innovator Award, and the IBM Excellence Award, one stands above the rest. In 2017, he received the IBM Hall of Fame Award for his sustained, exceptional contribution to IBM Z. "The Hall of Fame is not a participation recognition," he reflects. "It is IBM's acknowledgment of sustained, exceptional contribution to a technology that powers the world's most critical industries." Receiving it for his work on IBM Z was a defining moment, one that validated not just the years of effort, but the belief that this platform deserved every bit of it.
A Defining Moment at Think 2026
Recently, Abhishek attended IBM Think 2026 in Boston, “for me it was a milestone experience not just as an event” he said. Hearing IBM CEO Arvind Krishna speak directly about the future of technology and innovation was inspiring, but what made this trip truly unforgettable was a visit to the IBM Innovation Center in Poughkeepsie, the birthplace of IBM Z and LinuxONE. "Standing at the birthplace of IBM Z, meeting the engineers who build and test this platform, that turned conviction into something unshakeable."
Why He Became an IBM Champion
"I set out to give IBM Z and LinuxONE the advocacy it deserves, and the community recognized that," Abhishek reflects. His journey from Mainframe Systems Programmer to Brand Leader has always been driven by a deep belief in the platform itself. "The best advocacy is not about promoting a product. It is about elevating the conversation around the problems it solves."
Advice for Aspiring Champions
With IBM Champion nominations opening soon, Abhishek offers this thoughtful guidance: "The IBM Champion program is not a certification you study for, it is a recognition when you are already doing the work, sharing knowledge generously and advocating for technology you genuinely believe in.”
Lightning Round
- Superpower? Teleporter, to travel the world and to explore God's creation around the world 🌍
- Bucket list trip? France & Paris 🇫🇷
- Ice cream or cake? Ice cream 🍦
- Cats or dogs? Dogs 🐶
- Summer or winter? Winter ❄️
- Morning or evening? Morning 🌅
- eBook or paper book? Paper book 📖
- TV shows or movies? Movies 🎬
- A night out or a night in? Night out 🌃
- Cannonball into the pool or dip a toe in first? Dip a toe in first 🦶
- Drive or fly? Drive 🚗
Connect with Abhishek Anand on LinkedIn.
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