Jim Whitehurst

Jim Whitehurst

Keynote Speaker: Former President of IBM & CEO of Red Hat

Jim Whitehurst Biography

Jim Whitehurst was the President at IBM and chair of the board at Red Hat, and previously Chief Executive Officer at Red Hat and Chief Operating Officer at Delta Air Lines. Whitehurst is an avid advocate for open software as a catalyst for business innovation. With a background in business development, finance, and global operations, Whitehurst has proven expertise in helping companies flourish—even in the most challenging economic and business environments.

Whitehurst helped grow Red Hat and its influence on a variety of industries, by reaching key milestones — the most notable in 2012 when Red Hat became the first $1 billion revenue open source software company. Since joining Red Hat, Whitehurst grew revenue from more than $500 million at the end of February 2008, to almost $3 billion for the company's 2018 fiscal year. Under his leadership, Red Hat was named to Forbes’ list of “The World’s Most Innovative Companies” in 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2012; named to Fortune’s list of the Most Admired Companies for 2018; added to Standard and Poor’s (S&P) 500 stock index in 2009; named one of the best places to work by Glassdoor in 2016, 2014, and 2013; named to the first-ever Fortune Future 50 list in 2017; and added to the Forbes’ Global 2000 list in 2017. In addition, in 2018 Whitehurst was named one of the World’s Best CEOs by Barron’s.

In June 2015, Whitehurst published a book with Harvard Business Review Press entitled "The Open Organization: Igniting Passion and Performance" showing how open principles of management—based on transparency, participation, and community—can help organizations navigate and succeed in a fast-paced connected era. To date, the book has sold more than 42,000 copies; been featured in more than 130 press articles including articles from Fortune, Forbes, and Fast Company; and named one of the top 10 creative leadership books of 2015 in Forbes.

During his six-years at Delta Air Lines, Whitehurst drove significant international expansion and as Chief Operating Officer, oversaw all aspects of airline operations—from sales to strategy. At The Boston Consulting Group, where he began his career in 1989, he held several corporate development leadership roles, working in the Chicago, Hong Kong and Shanghai offices, and as a partner in the Atlanta office with numerous clients across a wide range of industries.

In 2020 it was announced that Whitehurst will take on the role of President at IBM, starting April 6. On July 2, 2021 Whitehurst announced his resignation from IBM.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Jim Whitehurst and other top speakers and celebrities.

Jim Whitehurst Videos

Keynote 5: The Industry X Value Chain - Jim Whitehurst, Red Hat ...
Jim Whitehurst, Red Hat | Red Hat Summit 2019

How do I book Jim Whitehurst to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jim Whitehurst for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jim Whitehurst, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Jim Whitehurst or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Jim Whitehurst for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Jim Whitehurst, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is Below $10,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jim Whitehurst, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Jim Whitehurst speak about?

Jim Whitehurst is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Computer Science, Technology, Business, Business Leadership, Executive Leadership, Sales, Customer Experience, Marketing, Human Resources, College, Commencement and Leadership.

Where does Jim Whitehurst travel from?

Jim Whitehurst generally travels from Raleigh, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Jim Whitehurst?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Jim Whitehurst for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jim Whitehurst for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Jim Whitehurst or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Jim Whitehurst is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Computer Science, Technology and Business. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jim Whitehurst for live events is Below $10,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Jim Whitehurst generally travels from Raleigh, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Gary Vaynerchuk, Daymond John and Mark Cuban. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jim Whitehurst for an upcoming event.

Jim Whitehurst Videos

Keynote 5: The Industry X Value Chain - Jim Whitehurst, Red Hat ...
Jim Whitehurst, Red Hat | Red Hat Summit 2019

Jim Whitehurst News

  • How do I book Jim Whitehurst to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jim Whitehurst for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jim Whitehurst, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Jim Whitehurst or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Jim Whitehurst for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Jim Whitehurst, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is Below $10,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jim Whitehurst, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Jim Whitehurst speak about?

    Jim Whitehurst is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Computer Science, Technology, Business, Business Leadership, Executive Leadership, Sales, Customer Experience, Marketing, Human Resources, College, Commencement and Leadership.
  • Where does Jim Whitehurst travel from?

    Jim Whitehurst generally travels from Raleigh, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Jim Whitehurst?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Jim Whitehurst for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jim Whitehurst for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Jim Whitehurst or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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