The leadership transition was announced in an internal email from IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna and later shared publicly via LinkedIn. Gambetta, an IBM fellow, officially took on the role in October after serving more than six years as vice president of IBM Quantum.
In the announcement, Krishna described Gambetta as “a leader in quantum computing,” adding that he has been instrumental in building IBM’s quantum program “from fundamental science to real systems, software and services that clients are already using to explore new applications.”
“Jay has helped build IBM’s quantum program from a science project into an industry-defining platform," wrote Krishna. "His appointment marks an exciting new chapter for IBM Research, whose work underpins our leadership in the era of hybrid cloud and AI.”
Gambetta has been with IBM for nearly 15 years, helping drive advancements in quantum software, hardware and cloud-based experimentation. He has also led efforts to broaden access to quantum computing through partnerships with universities, startups and government agencies.
Prior to joining IBM, Gambetta held faculty roles at Yale University and the University of Waterloo. He earned a doctorate in physics from Griffith University in Australia, specializing in quantum theory.
As director of IBM Research, Gambetta will oversee innovation in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, semiconductor technologies and other areas core to IBM’s long-term strategy.
