Lenovo yesterday announced a change at the top of its Mobile Business Group. Liu Jun is stepping down from his role as Executive Vice President of Lenovo Mobile Business Group and Chairman of the Motorola Mobility management board to become a special consultant to the company’s CEO on mobile business and strategy. Replacing him will be Chen Xudong who previously headed up Lenovo’s Internet-focused ShenQi spinoff.
Xudong will also become Co-Chairman of ShenQi with George He. Edward Chang, currently Vice President of ShenQi, will become the company’s new CEO.
Lenovo did not provide any specific reason to explain why Liu was stepping down from his current responsibilities. He will become a special consultant to Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing on mobile business and strategy “for a certain period of time.” This suggests that he may not be at Lenovo much longer.
Fresh from its Motorola acquisition, Lenovo has seen its reach expand to more than 60 markets worldwide. At the same time, it has seen its market share in China decline in the face of increased competition from other local companies such as Xiaomi as well as international players such as Apple and Samsung. Whereas Lenovo was China’s second largest manufacturer in Q1 2014 with a 10.2% market share, it tumbled to fifth largest in Q1 2015 with an 8.3% market share.
It remains to be seen what changes Chen will bring to both Lenovo’s Mobile Business Group and to Motorola.
Source : Lenovo