IBM Australia names new GM of ecosystems and alliances

IBM Australia has appointed a new general manager of ecosystems to replace Elisa Kelsall who has moved to streaming music provider Spotify.

Billy Apoleska has been promoted to the GM role, from her position as sales manager of data, artificial intelligence and automation which she has held for over three years.

Prior to rejoining IBM, Apoleska worked as the partner and channel alliances manager for ANZ at communications application programming interface (API) provider Twilio in Sydney, and establishing the Asia-Pacific operations for the iOFFICE workplace experience and asset management solutions provider.

Apoleska also has prior experience at IBM Australia, and ICT distributor Express Data.

At Spotify, Kelsall will be the head of advertising sales for Japan and Asia-Pacific from Sydney.

Kelsall has enjoyed a long career in technology sales in the United Kingdom and Australia.

This includes a nine and a half year stint at Google's Australian office, where she was the head of new business acquisitions, ANZ country manager most recently until July 2020.

Prior to working at IBM for over two years, Kelsall was the head of partnerships for ANZ at social network TikTok, until October 2022.

IBM Australia managing director Nicholas Flood told CRN Australia that Kelsall set up the Partner Plus program while at the company, with partners scaling sales double-digit in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

"I'm very happy with Elisa's contributions to IBM throughout a period of sustained success for IBM in Australia and New Zealand and I wish her every best success as she returns to the Business to Consumer space ," Flood said.

Flood added that he's equally pleased to see Billy Apoleska as a dynamic and talented leader stepping into the ANZ ecosystems role as general manager.