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CES 2010 seems like a pivotal point for Lenovo in terms of the company's image. You followed that up with strong channel initiatives, and together those two efforts really changed the conversation around Lenovo and seemed to open a lot of partners' eyes. Are you pleased with the progress you've made since that time?
I'm very excited about the progress we've made in almost two years. I think the thing we're most proud of is the level of trust and depth of the relationships we've been able to cultivate without business partners. That is the path to success in the PC and client device space. There is no doubt. And if you look at where we came from three years ago, sure, we had a solid partner base and a solid channel. But if you fast forward to today, and you talk to any of our channel partners and ask them if we deliver on our commitment and if we are committed to the channel, I think they'll answer yes. And we're listening to them every day. This event that we're at is not just about sharing out products with partners. It's about having one-on-one sessions with them and listening to their feedback so we can adjust and make the partnership even more successful.
You've introduced a lot of new products, and you have a growing partner base in the channel. Is the last step increasing your brand awareness?
Yes, that's 100 percent correct. We solidified our base, and we have a heritage of quality products and innovation. So many of our competitors have turned their backs on that; they're focused in buying off the shelf from OEMs and ODMs. What we're doing is continuing to invest in the technology to create the next wave of innovation. Then, we create a deep and loyal relationship with our channel, and grow the business. The last piece, now that we have about 10.2 percent global market share, is to make a big investment around a major branding campaign. It's the perfect time to position Lenovo and our product set around the idea that we create the technologies for those people who get out there and make things happen -- "For Those Who Do." And it really ties back to our culture, the Lenovo way. We deliver on our commitments. We do what we say, and we own what we do. That's a lot of "do," and that's consistent with our new campaign. The whole idea is that it's not just about technology for technology's sake. It's about creating those devices that allow people to make things happen and move their world forward.
Where will that branding be focused then? Will it be targeted primarily at the consumer level with the idea that it will work its way up to the SMB level? Or will you start at the SMB level and hope the message works its way down to end users?
Well, you probably know by now that I'm a scale guy; I like to grow, get bigger, get stronger and expand. I believe it's a two-pronged approach. We have to go after both. We're very strong right now in the commercial sector -- there's no doubt about it. We're number one in large enterprises and public sector in notebooks, and we're number two worldwide in commercial notebooks. So that business is going well, and we have a great brand. So as business and our consumer business in China remains strong on the protect side, we'll attack both consumer and SMB. I think the time is now to push in both directions, and to make sure we get that shelf space in the large retails, and also make sure we're creating the next generation of SMB-focused products like the new ThinkPad Edge systems. We have momentum, so let's keep the ball rolling.
Next: Lenovo's SMB, Consumer Focus
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