Kerrie Holley

Kerrie joined Google Cloud in 2021 and focused on strategy, architecture, and design in healthcare.

In 2016 United Health Group (UHG), Optum, invited Kerrie to join as their first Technology Fellow and Senior Vice President focused on advancing and applying several technologies: artificial intelligence, deep learning, natural language processing, graph databases, IoT, genomics, and ambient computing.

Kerrie spent the bulk of his career at IBM where he was an IBM Fellow, Master Inventor, and now IBM Fellow Emeritus. His last assignment with IBM Research focused on scalable services and cognitive computing. He was IBM’s first African American Distinguished Engineer. He is fond of appearing on ABC News and a TED talk to discuss IBM’s Watson the day after its historic debut on Jeopardy!

He holds several technology patents and is the author of three books: “Is Your Company Ready for Cloud” and “100 SOA Questions: Asked and Answered.” His third book was published in 2021, “AI First Healthcare” with co-author Dr. Siupo Becker, MD.

Prior to Optum, Kerrie worked on maturing an analytics portfolio focused using machine learning and streaming analytics as a CTO with Cisco.

He received his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from DePaul University in Chicago; a Juris Doctor Degree and an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters. I

In 2023, the National Academy of Engineering elected Kerrie as a member, one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer.