Ana Paula Assis is Senior Vice President and Chair for IBM Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, overseeing IBM’s business operations across more than 170 countries. A globally recognized technology executive, she leads the company’s strategic direction in some of the world’s most dynamic and diverse markets, driving growth, innovation, and client success across IBM’s hybrid cloud, AI, and industry-focused solutions portfolio.
Throughout her career at IBM, Ana Paula has held leadership roles across multiple geographies, --including Latin America, the US and China – and spanning a wide range of business units and technology domains. She is known for transforming large organizations, accelerating digital reinvention, and championing client-centric strategies that help businesses and governments harness emerging technologies to achieve meaningful outcomes. Her leadership has been instrumental in strengthening IBM’s ecosystem partnerships, expanding AI-led solutions, and supporting clients through complex modernization journeys.
As Chair of the EMEA and APAC regions, Ana Paula leads initiatives that promote sustainable innovation, responsible AI adoption, and skills development at scale. She is a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion, believing strongly in the power of multicultural teams and equitable access to technology. Under her leadership, IBM has expanded programs that prepare the workforce of the future, foster digital skills, and support economic growth across developed and developing markets.
Known for her strategic vision, collaborative leadership style, and commitment to societal impact, Ana Paula is frequently invited to speak on global stages about technology’s role in shaping competitive industries and resilient societies. Her work continues to influence how organizations across regions transform with speed, trust, and purpose in the era of AI.
Ana Paula is a Non-Executive Director at the Board of Trane Technologies and a member of the International Advisory Board of IESE Business School. In her spare time, she enjoys bike riding, reading, and spending time with her family.
