Kevin Rollins
Kevin Rollins | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 15, 1952 Utah, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Business executive |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Known for | Former President and CEO of Dell Inc. |
Kevin Barney Rollins (born November 15, 1952) is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, recognized as the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Dell Inc.. In 2006, London's CBR ranked him as the 9th Most Influential individual within the Enterprise IT industry.
Biography
A native of Utah, Rollins met his spouse Debra while attending Brigham Young University (BYU), where he completed bachelor's degrees in humanities and civil engineering by 1983, followed by an MBA in 1984. Prior to his April 1996 appointment at Dell, he was a vice president and partner at Bain & Company, focusing on strategic and management consulting for technology and consumer goods sectors. His efforts contributed significantly to Dell's leadership in direct computer sales across the United States.
On January 1, 2009, Rollins assumed the role of chairman for the Board of Trustees at the American Enterprise Institute.
Dell Computer
Throughout more than ten years at Dell, Rollins occupied various executive positions: Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy (1996), President of Dell Americas (1996–2001), Chief Operating Officer (2001–2004), President (2001–2007), and Chief Executive Officer (2004–2007). During his tenure, Dell employed approximately 50,000 staff globally and generated $45.4 billion in revenue in his final four quarters.
He emphasized enhancing employee training programs and customer service initiatives, which propelled sales growth by $14.2 billion (a 6% increase year-over-year) alongside net income reaching $762 million. Rollins also announced a strategic pivot to include AMD processors in addition to Intel chips. In 2006, Forbes placed him as the 18th highest-paid CEO worldwide with total compensation of $39.31 million, despite a stock price decrease of 9% relative to the S&P 500 index.
Rollins managed a significant workforce downsizing—approximately 8,000 job cuts globally between 2006 and 2007—that attracted criticism regarding its strategic approach and may have influenced his eventual exit. He was removed from his role at Dell in January 2007.
Upon departure, Rollins received $48.5 million in cash from expired stock options. In July 2010, he was among several Dell executives charged by the SEC over accounting irregularities; the matter was resolved with Rollins paying a $4 million settlement.
Philanthropic efforts
Rollins participates on BYU's President's Leadership Council and the Marriott School National Advisory Council, where he established and funds the Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology. He is a member of the U.S. Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiation and holds involvement with both the Computer Systems Policy Project and the U.S. Business Council. Additionally, Rollins supports organizations such as the American Enterprise Institute and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
His philanthropic activities extend to political contributions, notably supporting Mitt Romney’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
Appointments and awards
- Inducted into Utah Information Technology Hall of Fame (2004)
- Executive Committee Member of BYU President's Leadership Council
- Executive Committee Member of BYU eBusiness Center Advisory Board
- Public Relations Committee Member at BYU Marriott School National Advisory Council
- Member At-large on Austin Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors
- Board Member of KRLU Public Television
- Member of U.S. Presidential Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiation
- Speaker at BYU Marriott School of Management Convocation (2006)
Personal life
Rollins and his spouse are parents to four children and grandparents to nine grandchildren. In 2019, he put up for sale a custom-designed home located in Del Valle, Texas, which was created by architect David Webber in 2005.
External links
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- 1952 births
- 20th-century American businesspeople
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- American chief executives of manufacturing companies
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- American Latter Day Saints
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- American technology chief executives
- Bain & Company employees
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