IBM Adds Siris Capital Co-Founder Frank Baker To Its Board, Expanding Directors To Fourteen
Baker, 53, brings more than $9 billion in private equity dealmaking experience to IBM's Directors and Corporate Governance Committee.
IBM elected Frank Baker to its board of directors on Thursday, adding the co-founder and managing partner of Siris Capital Group and amending its bylaws to expand the board from thirteen to fourteen members.
What The 8-K Says
The election and the bylaw change both took effect Thursday, according to the 8-K filed with the SEC. Under Item 5.02(d), the filing states that Baker joined the Directors and Corporate Governance Committee. Under Item 5.03(a), it records the amendment to Article III, Section 2 of IBM's bylaws raising the director count to fourteen.
Baker, 53, was born and raised near Detroit and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in economics from the University of Chicago. He currently serves as chairman of the board of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, as a trustee of the University of Chicago, and as a trustee of Deerfield Academy.
IBM chairman, president and chief executive officer Arvind Krishna said in the accompanying press release: "We are excited to welcome Frank Baker to our Board of Directors. I look forward to the perspective and insight Frank will bring as we advance our long-term vision and drive enterprise-wide transformation through technology both for our clients and across IBM."
Baker's Background In Technology Private Equity
Siris Capital, which Baker co-founded, describes itself as focused on established technology companies with mission-critical products and services navigating technology change. The firm has deployed more than $9 billion in equity capital since its founding across technology, telecommunications, and data-focused companies, according to the press release.
Baker oversees Siris's portfolio and leads its investment strategy. Before Siris, he served as a managing director at Ripplewood Holdings. He began his career in mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs.
IBM shares edged up about 0.04% to $225.70 in Thursday after-hours trading following the post-close disclosure, while the stock closed Thursday's regular session up 2.59% at $225.62 (market data).
What To Watch
Baker's committee assignment — Directors and Corporate Governance — puts him at the center of IBM's board-level oversight rather than, say, its audit or compensation functions. Whether his background running a private equity firm that specializes in technology-company transformation shapes IBM's capital allocation decisions or deal activity in coming quarters is the question his appointment raises.
IBM's compensatory arrangements for non-management directors, including Baker, are set out in the company's proxy statement dated March 10, 2026, the 8-K notes.
