Acer's new team to take charge in 2005

Our Infotech Bureau
03 September 2004

With Gianfranco Lanci slated to take charge as president, Acer has a new top team to lead the company to one of the global top three PC brands

Mumbai: Acer Inc (2003 revenues : $ 4.9 billion) has announced that Gianfranco Lanci, president of Acer EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and the international operations business group (IOBG), will take over as president of Acer Inc, effective January 2005.

President JT Wang, will step into the shoes of Stan Shih, chairman and CEO, who is due to step down at the end of this year. The new positions will be effective from January 1, 2005. Lanci's elevation marks Acer's recognition of his outstanding performance in the European market, including his management style and successful business model, which may now extend to the Acer group world-wide.

Lanci's post as president of Acer Inc signals an important advance for Acer as a global company. A combination of factors led to Lanci's elevation. They include a high percentage of Acer's revenues from the international operations; as one company with one brand and one team, there is no longer the division of local and overseas members; recognition of Lanci's notable contribution to Acer's business; and confidence in his ability to strengthen the international operations.

Shih says Lanci's efforts to expand the Acer brand into the European market have reaped tremendous results. In 2003, sales in Europe accounted for more than 60 per cent of Acer's IT product business.

Starting in Italy, Lanci has demonstrated a strong and steady growing momentum; in Q2-2004 Acer notebooks ranked No.1 in EMEA. Acer in the US has also seen substantial growth this year since he began overseeing this market, proving his capability to turn challenge into success.