IBM-Microsoft Spat Elevates Diversity to Tech-Secret Level
- IBM sues to block former diversity chief from moving to rival
- Lindsay-Rae McIntyre’s lawyers call IBM’s move ‘draconian’
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International Business Machines Corp. called foul on Microsoft Corp.’s hiring of its chief diversity officer in a case that elevates recruiting and promotion of an inclusive workforce to the level of safeguarding proprietary technology.
IBM claims the information that Lindsay-Rae McIntyre possesses -- including confidential data about diversity, strategies and initiatives -- can cause "real and immediate competitive harm" if she’s allowed to move immediately to Microsoft. IBM sued to enforce a one-year non-competition agreement.