After eight years as CEO of IBM, Ginni Rometty is stepping down and Arvind Krishna has been elected to replace her, according to a company press release.

Rometty is the first woman to hold the top position at IBM and oversaw the company during a period of transformation and disruption within the tech industry. She led IBM as it dealt with the rise of cloud computing, artificial intelligence and more. During her tenure, the company bet big on the hybrid cloud market, as well as its acquisition of open-source software company Red Hat.

Arvind Krishna will pick up where Rometty left off. In fact, Krishna is responsible for some of IBM’s strategic moves under Rometty. Specifically, he was the architect of the Red Hat deal, and has been a staunch proponent of IBM’s hybrid cloud approach.

“Arvind is the right CEO for the next era at IBM,” said Rometty in the press release. “He is a brilliant technologist who has played a significant role in developing our key technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud, quantum computing and blockchain. He is also a superb operational leader, able to win today while building the business of tomorrow. Arvind has grown IBM’s Cloud and Cognitive Software business and led the largest acquisition in the company’s history. Through his multiple experiences running businesses in IBM, Arvind has built an outstanding track record of bold transformations and proven business results, and is an authentic, values-driven leader. He is well-positioned to lead IBM and its clients into the cloud and cognitive era.”

Krishna struck an optimistic tone that IBM will continue to innovate and play a pivotal role in the tech industry.

“I am thrilled and humbled to be elected as the next Chief Executive Officer of IBM, and appreciate the confidence that Ginni and the Board have placed in me,” said Krishna. “IBM has such talented people and technology that we can bring together to help our clients solve their toughest problems. I am looking forward to working with IBMers, Red Hatters and clients around the world at this unique time of fast-paced change in the IT industry. We have great opportunities ahead to help our clients advance the transformation of their business while also remaining the global leader in the trusted stewardship of technology.”