Uwe Graf
Head of Consulting
EasiRun Europa GmbH
Saxony, Germany
This profile features Uwe Graf, one of the top four 2026 Influential Mainframers in the class of 2026.
If you ask Uwe Graf to describe himself, he won’t start with a list of certifications or corporate accolades. He’ll tell you with pride that he is a “Modern Mainframe Nerd” who is determined to prove that Germans do, in fact, have a sense of humor.
As the Head of Consulting at EasiRun Europa GmbH and a 2026 Influential Mainframer Top 4 winner, Uwe is proof that you can exist at the bleeding edge of IBM Champion-level technology while maintaining ease and authenticity.
Escaping the “Demo Bubble”
Uwe’s approach to technology is refreshingly grounded. While the industry is often swept up in the polished magic of AI demos, Uwe looks at what happens when hype meets the messy reality of a forty-year-old codebase.
By experimenting with tools like IBM BOB, an AI-powered development assistant, Uwe has learned that the real challenge isn’t the AI itself, but the knowledge base behind it.
“In a demo, knowledge is clearly scoped and available under controlled conditions,” Uwe explained. “In real-world mainframe environments, complexity is significantly higher. We have decades of legacy structures and highly customized processes. Maintaining and evolving that knowledge base is where the real work happens.”
Flipping the Switch
In addition to his own technical evolution, Uwe is on a quest to deliver “lightbulb moments”—those specific instances when rising talent realizes the mainframe isn’t a relic but the best path to take. He doesn’t try to hard-sell; he simply shows them a future that is already here.
“Once people understand that the mainframe is a stable and highly innovative platform, the career path tends to take care of itself.”
By demonstrating that modern methods, current programming languages, and AI have been part of the mainframe environment for years, he witnesses the shift in perspective in real time.
The Power of Humor
Perhaps what makes Uwe most influential is his refusal to be boring. His articles and interactions often challenge assumptions and encourage rethinking the relevance of the mainframe in modern IT—but always in an enjoyable way. Whether he’s writing a humorous piece like “Thoughts from a Mainframe on Halloween” or explaining a legacy Fortran system, he leads with an accessible style that lowers barriers.
“When clients see that you enjoy what you do, it becomes much easier to introduce new ideas and approaches.”
His expertise is expansive, including:
- mainframe modernization
- software architecture
- data-driven development
- COBOL
- CICS transaction monitors
- VSEn
Uwe has the technical weight to outshine most career mainframers. He even holds a patent related to semiconductor inspection technology. Yet, despite the heavy-duty resume, his professional headshot features him wearing an “I love Mainframes” hoodie.
Whether he’s writing a humorous piece like “Thoughts from a Mainframe on Halloween“ or explaining a legacy Fortran system, he leads with an accessible style that lowers barriers.
“I’ve often found that clients appreciate it when serious topics are presented in a slightly more relaxed way,” Uwe shared. “When clients see that you enjoy what you do, it becomes much easier to introduce new ideas and approaches.”
He’s both smart and wise.
The Friends of 2050
Uwe doesn’t view the future as a choice between the old world and the new. In his vision of 2050, the mainframe isn’t a siloed monolith but rather a Great Orchestrator.
The mainframe would serve as a central player connecting different technologies. He envisions an ecosystem where the mainframe acts as a mediator, ensuring that older friends like COBOL (in a more modern, evolved form) work seamlessly alongside newer friends such as cloud and AI — and the tools that inevitably rise in the years between.
“AI would be part of this world, not as a disruptor, but as an integrator. The mainframe would essentially act as a mediator, balancing stability, innovation, and collaboration.”
For Uwe Graf, the future of the mainframe is about the joy of the work, and building a strong, yet humble, community.
You can connect with Uwe Graf on LinkedIn.
Follow @PlanetMainframe and #PMFInfluentialMainframers to congratulate this year’s honorees.
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