Harriet Pearson was named Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) for IBM in November 2000, responsible for guiding privacy policies and practices across the company, streamlining privacy initiatives within IBM's many business units and geographies, and furthering the company's overall efforts in the area of privacy. Prior to being named CPO, Pearson was director of public affairs for IBM's Governmental Programs group where she managed and directed several areas of public policy, including privacy, health care, consumer protection, retirement income, and other social policy issues raised by the shift to a networked world. Pearson practiced law in Washington, D.C., and was an engineer before joining IBM in 1993. Born and raised in New York City, she holds a law degree from UCLA with highest honors and an honors degree from Princeton University.