Education: MBA (equivalent) and BS (equivalent) telecommunications and software engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain)
Artificial intelligence – or A.I. – is perhaps the most exciting field in all of STEM. The brightest minds across disciplines ranging from software engineering to neurology to philosophy have flocked to corporations and research labs that are investing billions to apply the technology today and unlock its tremendous potential for tomorrow.
Jesus Mantas is at the center of the revolution at IBM. In his dual leadership roles at IBM’s Cognitive Process Transformation and Global Business Consulting units, Mr. Mantas is zealously focused on the reinvention of every aspect of business with Artificial Intelligence. He has been consistently recognized as a transformational leader, unmatched innovator, and a visionary with ability to define winning strategies
He’s also credited with being an inspirational operator who can execute and power organizations to the future. Known for his ability to select and develop talented leaders and change cultures, Mr. Mantas employs remarkable energy, performance and engagement in every organization he leads – all while being responsible for over 25,000 employees. The Global Business Services unit alone constitutes one of the world's largest consulting organizations, generating revenue of $17 billion.
Mr. Mantas began his career in 1992 as a trainee with Procter & Gamble in his native Spain. After a year-long stint as an officer in the Spanish Air Force, he moved to the United States to join Ernst & Young’s enterprise resource planning practice. Later, to maximize his English language skills, he took advantage of an opportunity to become a lecturer at the University of California, Irvine, and experience he credits with helping hone his ability to present ideas.
He soon moved on to Price Waterhouse Coopers Consulting where his ability to innovate and grow new areas such led to firm naming him one of its youngest partners after less than four years. After IBM acquired PWC Consulting, Mr. Mantas quickly rose to Vice President of North America General Business. In that post, he led the successful transformation of IBM’s consulting strategy towards a packaged-based set of assets fit for smaller clients and focusing on fusing technology and business consulting.
In 2010, Mr. Mantas was named IBM’s Managing Partner and General Manager for Latin America, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Responsible for all aspects of the business, including strategy, talent acquisition, client relations and overall operations, he doubled the size of the consulting business in the region.
His success in Latin America led him to be named General Manager of Global Process Services in 2014. Within two years, Mr. Mantas had successfully integrated his division with IBM Global Business Services. This feat included the launch of the new digital consulting service line; the creation of the world’s first and largest cognitive consulting practice; and the integration of four different service lines into IBM Business Consulting, a simplified but more robust and far reaching offering for business clients.
His latest mission is to lead the business unit missioned to transform consulting for the cognitive era, helping clients reinvent their business processes into digital services. As one of the pioneers in an exciting new frontier at the crossroads of business and technology, Mr. Mantas is an inspiring leader who is surely among IBM’s most valuable assets.