Michael Dell
Chairman & CEO of Dell Technologies Inc. (2007–Present)
Michael Dell founded Dell Technologies and has served as Chief Executive Officer across two distinct tenures for a cumulative total of 40 years and 2 months (14,680 days). He initially led the company from May 1, 1984 to July 16, 2004 (20 years, 2 months) before stepping down to Chairman while Kevin Rollins served as CEO. On January 31, 2007, Dell returned as CEO, successfully taking the company private in 2013, acquiring EMC in 2016, and leading its relisting on the NYSE, where he actively serves today.
Executive Terms Breakdown (2 Distinct Tenures)
Continuous days served across multiple appointments at Dell Technologies Inc..
Executive Succession & Corporate Facts
- Predecessor
- Kevin Rollins (President & CEO)
- Successor
- Active (Currently serving in office)
- Database Tenure Rank
- #5 Longest-Serving CEO in Database (View Full Rankings →)
- Company Founded
- Feb 1, 1984 (Round Rock, Texas)
- Known Aliases
- Michael Saul Dell
Tenure Milestones & Transition Timeline
Michael Dell Launches PC's Limited from UT Austin Dorm Room
With $1,000 in capital, 19-year-old Michael Dell founded PC's Limited to sell customized personal computers directly to consumers.
Dell Computer Completes $30 Million Initial Public Offering
Dell took his company public on NASDAQ under ticker DELL, pioneering direct build-to-order manufacturing and supply-chain efficiency.
Michael Dell to Step Down as CEO; Kevin Rollins Named Successor
Dell announced he would relinquish CEO duties on July 16, 2004 to President Kevin Rollins while remaining Chairman of the Board.
Michael Dell Concludes Initial 20-Year CEO Tenure at Dell
Dell officially handed CEO duties to Rollins, concluding two decades of leadership that made Dell the world's largest PC vendor.
Michael Dell Returns as Chief Executive Officer of Dell
Following Rollins's departure, Michael Dell resumed the CEO role to accelerate direct customer engagement and corporate turnaround.
Dell Completes Landmark $67 Billion Acquisition of EMC
Michael Dell led the largest enterprise technology acquisition in history, combining Dell and EMC to form Dell Technologies.
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