IBM’s Kyndryl Hires Spin-Off Whiz David Wyshner As CFO

Wyshner joins the IBM GTS spin-off from XPO Logistics, where he led the transportation company’s global finance organization.

Kyndryl, the upcoming 90,000-person spin-off of IBM’s managed infrastructure services business, has hired a CFO: David Wyshner, who comes with 15 years of experience and a history in public acquisitions and spin-offs.

Wyshner joins Kyndryl — the spin-off of IBM’s Global Technology Services (GTS) — from Greenwich, Conn.-based transportation and contract logistics firm XPO Logistics, where he led the company’s global finance organization and prepared the firm for its forthcoming contract logistics division spin-off.

He joined XPO in March 2020. Wyshner plans to leave XPO Sept. 2, according to a regulatory filing.

Wyshner previously worked as CFO of Wyndham Worldwide, leading the company’s separation into one privately acquired business and two public companies, according to the statement. He also led the company’s nearly $2 billion acquisition of hotel chain La Quinta in 2018.

He also previously served as CFO of Avis Budget Group, leaving the rental car company in 2017.

Wyshner’s experience includes working on the spin-off of a multi-billion dollar subsidiary of Cendant and breaking up the travel services company into four independent groups in the mid-2000s, according to his LinkedIn. He became CFO of Cendant successor Avis Budget Group, notably leading Avis’ acquisition of Zipcar in 2013 for about $500 million.

Kyndryl has already announced other members of its executive team, including CEO Martin Schroeter and Chief Technology Officer Antoine Shagoury. Kyndryl will also have six global managed services practices: cloud; digital workplace; security and resiliency; network and edge; core enterprise and zCloud; and applications, data and AI. Kyndryl will also offer an advisory and implementation services practice to advise customers on digital environments and advanced technology adoption and integration.

The spin-off is still on track to be completed by the end of 2021, IBM said in the statement.

Earlier this month during IBM’s most recent quarterly earnings call, IBM CFO James Kavanaugh said that once Kyndryl is spun off, IBM will be 45 to 50 percent software, helping the company’s bottom line.

Mark Wyllie, CEO of Boca Raton, Fla.-based IBM partner Flagship Solutions Group, told CRN that he’s “cautiously optimistic” about the spin-off. Flagship has served as a subcontractor for IBM’s GTS on cloud-related projects.

“We’ve done a lot of good work with them, and I expect that to continue,” Wyllie said. “I’m cautiously optimistic.”

IBM itself has seen recent major leadership changes with the announced upcoming departure of President Jim Whitehurst, former CEO of IBM subsidiary Red Hat.

In June, IBM Global Services ranked No. 2 among CRN’s 25 Top Solution Provider Companies.