Kevin Rollins
Encyclopedia
Kevin B. Rollins is an American businessman and philanthropist
. The former President and CEO of Dell Computers
, in 2006 Rollins was named by London's CBR as the 9th Most Influential person in the Enterprise IT sector.
Rollins was born and raised in Utah
and met his wife Debra while attending Brigham Young University
(BYU). While at BYU, Rollins earned a bachelors in Humanities and Civil Engineering in 1983 and an MBA a year later. Before joining Dell
in April 1996, Rollins was vice president and partner of Bain & Company
where he specialized in strategies and management for high technology and consumer product clients. He helped develop strategies that propelled Dell into a commanding position in the direct selling of computer systems in the United States.
Rollins and his wife have four children and five grandchildren.
Rollins became the chairman of the American Enterprise Institute
's Board of Trustees on January 1, 2009.
(2001–2004), president (2001–2007), and CEO (2004–2007). During the last four quarters of his leadership, the company employed approximately 50,000 workers worldwide and reported revenues of $45.4 billion.
While at Dell, Rollins oversaw company plans to spend more on staff training and customer services, and sales increased $14.2 billion—up 6% year on year with a net income of $762 million. He also announced that Dell would add support for AMD chips. In 2006, Forbes
magazine listed Rollins as the 18th highest compensated CEO in the world at $39.31 million for achieving a 9% decline in stock performance during his tenure with a stock performance that was 81 percent that of the S&P 500
. Upon leaving Dell in 2007, Rollins was paid $48.5 million in cash related to expired stock options.
His philanthropy has also extended to financially support various political campaigns, including most recently Mitt Romney
's bid for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Presidency.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. The former President and CEO of Dell Computers
Dell
Dell, Inc. is an American multinational information technology corporation based in 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, United States, that develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. Bearing the name of its founder, Michael Dell, the company is one of the largest...
, in 2006 Rollins was named by London's CBR as the 9th Most Influential person in the Enterprise IT sector.
Rollins was born and raised in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and met his wife Debra while attending Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU). While at BYU, Rollins earned a bachelors in Humanities and Civil Engineering in 1983 and an MBA a year later. Before joining Dell
Dell
Dell, Inc. is an American multinational information technology corporation based in 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, United States, that develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. Bearing the name of its founder, Michael Dell, the company is one of the largest...
in April 1996, Rollins was vice president and partner of Bain & Company
Bain & Company
Bain & Company is a global management consulting firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Bain is considered one of the most prestigious consulting firms in the world, with 47 offices in 30 countries and over 5,500 professionals on staff globally...
where he specialized in strategies and management for high technology and consumer product clients. He helped develop strategies that propelled Dell into a commanding position in the direct selling of computer systems in the United States.
Rollins and his wife have four children and five grandchildren.
Rollins became the chairman of the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
's Board of Trustees on January 1, 2009.
Dell Computer
Rollins worked at Dell for over a decade in various positions, including Senior VP of Corporate Strategy (1996), president of Dell Americas (1996–2001) overseeing operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Latin America, COOChief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
(2001–2004), president (2001–2007), and CEO (2004–2007). During the last four quarters of his leadership, the company employed approximately 50,000 workers worldwide and reported revenues of $45.4 billion.
While at Dell, Rollins oversaw company plans to spend more on staff training and customer services, and sales increased $14.2 billion—up 6% year on year with a net income of $762 million. He also announced that Dell would add support for AMD chips. In 2006, Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine listed Rollins as the 18th highest compensated CEO in the world at $39.31 million for achieving a 9% decline in stock performance during his tenure with a stock performance that was 81 percent that of the S&P 500
S&P 500
The S&P 500 is a free-float capitalization-weighted index published since 1957 of the prices of 500 large-cap common stocks actively traded in the United States. The stocks included in the S&P 500 are those of large publicly held companies that trade on either of the two largest American stock...
. Upon leaving Dell in 2007, Rollins was paid $48.5 million in cash related to expired stock options.
Philanthropic efforts
Rollins is a member of the BYU's President's Leadership Council and the Marriott School National Advisory Council, where he founded and continues to fund the Rollins Center for eBusiness. He also serves at the request of the President of the United States on the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiation and is a member of the Computer Systems Policy Project and the U.S. Business Council. Rollins is also active in the American Enterprise Institute and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.His philanthropy has also extended to financially support various political campaigns, including most recently Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
's bid for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Presidency.
Appointments and awards
- Utah Information Technology Hall of Fame (Inducted in 2004)
- BYUBrigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
President's Leadership Council Executive Committee Member - BYU eBusiness Center Advisory Board Executive Committee Member
- BYU Marriott School National Advisory Council, Public Relations Committee Member
- Austin Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors (Member At-large)
- KRLU Public Television Board of Directors
- U.S. Presidential Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiation Member
- 2006 BYU Marriott School of Management Convocation speaker
- Sears Holdings CorporationSears Holdings CorporationSears Holdings Corporation is a retail conglomerate formed in 2005 by the merger of Sears, Roebuck and Co., of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, with Kmart Holdings Corporation, of Troy, Michigan...
Board of Directors