John M. Lutz, an information technology and financial management expert who most recently served as president of IBM Canada, has been named vice chancellor for information technology for Vanderbilt University. He will begin work Monday, April 15.
As the first person to hold the position of vice chancellor for information technology, Lutz will oversee information technology for the university and medical center. He will report directly to Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos.
“John will bring exactly the experience and vision we need in our efforts to offer world-class information technology at Vanderbilt in support of education, research and patient care,” Zeppos said. “Information technology is a critical contributor to the continued growth, success and leadership of our institution. I’m thrilled to welcome John on board and look forward to working closely with him as we continue to transform this key area of our university.”
Based in Ontario, Lutz led IBM Canada, an organization that is one of IBM’s larger country operations both in revenues and in workforce size, with major offices in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver. Along with working with major clients in the financial services, government, retail and telecommunications sectors, IBM Canada also has multiple software labs, a semiconductor packaging facility, and a significant global export mission. Lutz has been with IBM since 1984, and worked in a variety of U.S. national and global positions based in Ohio, Texas, Georgia and New York. He also served in a key market-facing role across Europe, the Middle East and Africa that was based in London.
“[lquote]The intersections between modern IT and education and healthcare are among the most dynamic and exciting facing us today.[/lquote] The opportunities afforded by cloud computing, big data and deep analytics will revolutionize both of these key sectors,” Lutz said. “I am thrilled with the opportunity to contribute to the leadership work Vanderbilt is doing in these crucial areas.”
Lutz’s areas of responsibility will include all information technology at the university and medical center with the exception of clinical applications and IT funded by sponsored research.
The creation of the new vice chancellor position was an early outcome of the information technology transformation initiative that began in the fall of 2012. Vice Chancellor for Administration Jerry Fife, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Brett Sweet and Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Chief Administrative Officer John Manning have jointly served as chief information officer in an interim basis while the search to fill the position was underway.
Other early outcomes of the information transformation initiative include expanded wireless network access and capacity, a new system for business travel, improvements to the Business Objects system and a pilot implementation of a unified user interface for classrooms.
Lutz and his wife, Alethea Anderson Lutz, have three children, John, 18, James, 16, and Charleton, 14. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and computer science. He is a member of the board of directors of the Conference Board of Canada, a member of the Council of Canadian Chief Executives, and a member of the advisory board of the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University.
