Bill Ashton, a long-time member of IBM’s Quarter Century Club, passed away in Queensland on 18th June 2025. Bill’s wife Vivienne, his son Andrew and daughters Sarah & Kate wish to thank Bill’s old friends and former colleagues for their kind thoughts and messages of condolences. They wish to share Bill’s recollections of his time with IBM:
In July 1959, Bill embarked on his career with IBM, transitioning from his previous role as an electrician. This marked a significant change, requiring him to don a collar and tie for the first time.
On the 20th of July 1959, Bill experienced his inaugural plane ride to Sydney, where he undertook six weeks of training with IBM. During this period, he trained alongside two colleagues, Peter Wimpy, who sadly passed away shortly thereafter, and Tony Millard, a local who remained with IBM for many years.
Upon returning to Melbourne, Bill began his role as a customer engineer, a position he held for approximately two and a half years. In this capacity, he collaborated closely with the sales department, under the leadership of Ken Freeman, the Tasmanian marketing manager. His career then saw him return to the mainland, where he held various positions in Melbourne.
Bill’s journey continued with a transfer to Sydney, where he worked at the Lidcombe office as a technical support instructor for about two years. He then transitioned into the Sydney field operations as a people manager, overseeing individuals such as Barry Anderson, Barry Southeren, and Paul Mapstone.
In 1971, Bill was sent to Auckland for six months to address customer support challenges. Upon returning to Sydney, he was asked to relocate to Melbourne in 1972 to assume the role of Victorian CE manager. By 1976, he was back in Sydney, working in the Kent Street office for four years.
An opportunity arose for an assignment in the USA, which Bill and his family embraced, leading them to Connecticut for approximately four years. During this time, he worked in White Plains and Tarrytown as a Planning Manager. Returning to Sydney in late 1983, Bill worked in Walker Street, North Sydney, before moving to Cumberland Forest as an HR manager.
In 1988, he was assigned to Hong Kong as an Asia Pacific HR manager, a dual assignment alongside Viv, who worked in Office Services and Marketing Events management for Asia Pacific. In 1991, Bill returned to Sydney and took on the role of director with Lexmark, collaborating with Peter O’Meara to establish Lexmark in Australia. He retired from Lexmark in 1998, concluding a remarkable 39-year career with IBM and Lexmark.
These years were among the most fulfilling of his life, spent working alongside many extraordinary individuals.
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