IBM changes storage chiefs, but says it’s routine

IBM officials confirmed rumblings from last week that IBM veteran Curtis Tearte has replaced Andy Monshaw as its storage boss.

Tearte takes over as GM of the Storage Systems and Technology Group, after previously heading IBM’s Industry Growth Initiatives, Infrastructure Solutions, Innovation Solutions, and the Industry Systems Division organizations.

The IBM spokesperson who confirmed the move said the change was “part of IBM’s normal job rotation among its senior executives.” Monshaw, who became storage GM in January of 2005, becomes  general manager of sales and operations for IBM Japan.

Tearte takes over a storage division that added several pieces last year when it acquired systems startup XIV, VTL vendor Diligent Technologies, and continuous data protection (CDP) software maker FilesX. But Big Blue’s storage strategy hasn’t always been well defined since the acquisitions.