Coppell, Texas, March 06, 2026
Programmers.io today honors six team members who have received the prestigious 2026 IBM Champion recognition for their contributions to the IBM i ecosystem. Selected by IBM for their exceptional technical expertise, thought leadership, and tireless advocacy, these individuals shared knowledge, reinforced the global community, and promoted the adoption of IBM i and Power Systems technologies among customers and developers throughout 2025.
The experts who received the IBM Champions for Power Systems title again for their sustained efforts include:
- Simon Hutchinson, US IBM i Practice Lead – Awarded for the sixth consecutive year
- Mike Pavlak, Senior IT Strategist – Awarded for the sixth consecutive year
- Nirmal Khatri, Vice President of Technology – Awarded for the third consecutive year
- Amit Sharma, Senior IBM i Developer – Awarded for the third consecutive year
The members who earned the title for the first time include:
- Ravisankar Pandian, Senior IBM i Developer
- Rahul Pareek, Technical Architect
“IBM i is not legacy—it’s legendary,” said Nirmal Khatri, Vice President of Technology at Programmers.io. “Being recognized as IBM Champions is a testament to the passion our team brings to the IBM i community. Together, we will continue to maximize the potential of these multigenerational environments. In 2026, the focus will be on extracting the platform’s value safely, intelligently, and with the right balance of AI and human judgment.”
Anshul Choudhry, Founder of Programmers.io, said, “Having six IBM Champions on our team reflects the strength of the talent and leadership we have built. This recognition not only highlights our impact on the IBM i community but also strengthens our ability to help clients innovate, modernize, and unlock the full potential of their IBM i and Power Systems environments with greater control and confidence for years to come.”
About the IBM Champion Program
The IBM Champion program recognizes individuals who actively help the IBM community learn, grow, and excel. Each year, IBM selects people based on their commitment and contributions through advocacy, content creation, and feedback beyond the scope of their day-to-day roles. These Champions play a pivotal role in helping users, organizations, and developers understand and utilize IBM technologies while also shaping the future direction of the ecosystem.
About IBM
IBM is a global technology and consulting company that has been driving technological innovation for more than a century. Through its wide range of hardware and software products and services, IBM helps organizations operate more efficiently through technology. From supporting multigenerational platforms to advancing modern AI solutions, the company blends intelligence, innovation, and science to address real-world challenges across industries worldwide.
About Programmers.io
Programmers.io is a global technology company powering IBM i and IBM Z platforms for more than a decade. Headquartered in Texas, USA, it has supported more than 200 clients – including Fortune 500 and NYSE-listed enterprises – across 15 major sectors in maintaining, managing, and modernizing their mission-critical environments. With the world’s largest team of 300+ dedicated IBM i and IBM Z professionals, the company delivers a wide range of services backed by its industry-unique Happiness Guarantee.
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