Former IBM Exec Allowed to Work for Dell

If IBM had its way, former head of mergers and acquisitions, David Johnson, would not be allowed to work for Dell because he would allegedly be able to provide his new employer with trade secrets that would give Dell an unfair competitive advantage. However, a U.S. judge has sided with Dell and turned down IBM’s injunction against Johnson.
 
In his ruling, the judge decided that IBM never quite proved what secret information Johnson could actually supply to Dell that would give the company an edge over its rival.
 
Johnson, who now works as Dell’s senior vice president of corporate strategy, still faces another legal battle with IBM, which plans to sue Johnson over the alleged violation of a non-compete agreement. IBM has also confirmed through its spokesman that it will appeal the ruling of the injunction suit.
 
According to Johnson, the non-compete agreement, which was drafted in 2005, is invalid because it was not properly signed. He has also stated that he never had access to IBM’s confidential information, but IBM has argued otherwise, accusing Johnson of exploiting IBM resources to create his own venture capital firm.

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