IBM bought SoftLayer Technologies in a $2 billion deal aimed at beefing up the technology giant's efforts in cloud computing. George Karidis oversees strategic growth areas of SoftLayer, including innovation, product management, and corporate development. Prior to joining SoftLayer, George Karidis spent seven years with Devonshire Investors where he drove the strategic planning efforts of portfolio companies focused on the telecom, hosting, and software markets. He took active roles in each company from inception through domestic growth and international expansions. Previously, George led business development for a startup serving the SME market, and spent more than six years with the Yankee Group as an industry analyst covering the telecom and IT sectors. He holds an Honors Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University with majors in finance, accounting, and economics, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa.