IBM said Tuesday its board elected as its new chairman Virginia Rometty, who will succeed Samuel Palmisano when he steps down October 1. Rometty, 55, is currently IBM\'s president and chief executive officer, and will add the title of chairman at the US computing giant. Palmisano, who began his career with IBM in 1973 and became chairman in 2003, will remain a senior advisor to the company until he retires on December 1, an IBM statement said. Rometty began her career with IBM in 1981 in Detroit, Michigan, and was appointed CEO on January 1. She holds a bachelor of science degree in computer science and electrical engineering from Northwestern University.