Thomas J. Watson (founder)

Thomas J. Watson was an influential American business leader best known for transforming IBM into a global leader in technology and computing. Born in 1874, he started at the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, which later became IBM, and served as its CEO from the 1910s to the 1950s. Watson emphasized customer service, innovation, and corporate discipline, helping the company grow significantly. Under his leadership, IBM pioneered many advances in data processing and business machines, establishing a lasting legacy in the history of technology. He is remembered as a key figure in the development of modern computing and corporate management.