Both are full roles on their own. Running a global vertical from which makes up about 3% o global financial markets will be a tough call, and naturally enough require a life spent on a plane. It is not unique other vendors have had global business unit leads from Australia for vertical or business offerings, David Hunter, who ran Government at Accenture in my time there is one from memory, but it is very difficult geographically. Naturally both Coomer and EDS are aware of this, but it does add a degree of difficulty.

From the Westpac and NAB historical perspective, this appointment maybe a key concern for IBM moving forward. With a change in the CEO at Westpac about to transition, the challenge for IBM will be to gain continuity in relationships with Westpac as the Westpac renewal for outsourcing develops.  It is highly unlikely that in 2010, IBM will get a 10 year $4Billion deal from Westpac that it got in 2000. EDS clearly sees that it is a chance of getting a significant portion of this engagement on the back of its engagement in the mortgage processing space. It might end up another GM renewal, interesting as a sideline observer, painful as a potential provider.