Directorate Change

IBM
                  

            Carlos Ghosn Elected to IBM Board of Directors

The IBM board of directors today elected Carlos Ghosn to the board, effective
March 1, 2004. Mr. Ghosn is co-chairman, president and chief executive officer
of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Samuel J. Palmisano, IBM chairman and chief executive officer, said: 'Carlos
Ghosn's international business experience and perspective will make him a
valuable addition to our board. We are very pleased that he will be joining the
IBM board.'

Mr. Ghosn, a director of Nissan since 1999, has served as co- chairman of Nissan
since June of last year and as president and chief executive officer since 2001.
He was chief operating officer of Nissan from 1999 to 2001.

In addition, Mr. Ghosn served as executive vice president of Renault S.A. of
France from 1996 to 1999. From 1979 to 1996 he held a number of executive
positions with Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin in Europe, Brazil
and the U.S., the last being chairman, president and chief executive officer of
Michelin North America, Inc., from 1990 to 1996.

Mr. Ghosn, 49, was born in Brazil and holds engineering degrees from the Ecole
Polytechnique and the Ecole des Mines de Paris in France. He is also a member of
the board of directors of Alcoa, Inc., Renault S.A. and Sony Corporation.