IBM Vet To Run China's Biggest PC Maker

[dutter]

Steve Ward, a 26 year veteran of IBM, becomes CEO of massive Chinese PC manufacturer Lenovo.

Mr. Ward won't have to travel far to his new office, though. He will remain in New York, in Lenovo Group's new global HQ based in Westchester County. Other executives maintain offices in China, while design work and sales and marketing take place at Lenovo sites in Japan and North Carolina, respectively.

The biggest task facing Mr. Ward will be making some inroads on number 1 PC maker Dell and its 30+ million PC sales. IBM barely did a third of that business last year, and the PC unit has lost millions of dollars since the start of the 21st century. It's likely Lenovo will have to clamp down hard on costs coupled with the prowess of IBM engineers if they wish to make any gains against Dell's inexpensive machines.

IBM already enjoys the respect of thousands of business users; whether that can be parleyed into expanded sales for Lenovo will be Mr. Ward's biggest challenge.