Lenovo Group Chairman Chuanzhi Liu: New Challenges for a Veteran

In 2009 February, Lenovo Group, the biggest PC maker in China, announced that company founder Liu Chuanzhi resumed his position as chairman of the board. Since Lenovo bought IBM's PC business in 2004, Liu gradually left the center of power. After the merger, cooperation among the top management had been a great challenge: this became more prominent in the aftermath of the 2007 financial crisis and it was made even worse by Lenovo’s losses beginning in the third quarter of 2008. At this critical moment, in order to strengthen the confidence of the board of directors, Liu Chuanzhi, who had handed power over to Yang Yuanqing, had to return. Would the 65-year-old legendary veteran be able to lead Lenovo in creating another growth miracle? This case, which presents the development of Lenovo Group and Liu Chuanzhi’s leadership and management theory, is suitable for MBA or EMBA leadership courses.