Founded in Beijing, China in 1984, Lenovo Group Ltd. is a multinational computer technology company that designs, develops, manufactures, and sells personal computers, ThinkPad tablets, ThinkCentre desktops, smartphones, workstations, servers, IT software, smart TVs, and various other electronics products and devices. Originally known as Legend, Lenovo was incorporated in Hong Kong in 1988, acquired IBM’s PC business in 2005, and has since become the largest maker of personal computers in the world. With a market cap of $15.4 billion, operations in over 60 countries, and Lenovo products being sold in close to 160 countries, read on to see what you might not have known about the personal computer giant.
5. Lenovo Helped Sponsor the 2008 Summer Olympics
Lenovo was the only Chinese company that was a major sponsor for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Not only was the company a co-sponsor of the torch relay, but Lenovo also designed the Olympics torch and provided more than 10,000 pieces of computing equipment and 500 engineers to help deliver data and results from the events.
4. Google Sold Motorola to Lenovo
Less than two years after the original Google buyout, Motorola Mobility, the American smartphone producer, was sold to Lenovo in a deal worth $2.91 billion–$660 million in cash, $750 million in Lenovo shares, and a $1.5 billion promissory note. Lenovo’s worldwide reach will help to expand Motorola’s presence in the global market.
3. Lenovo is One of the World’s Most Reputable Companies
Over the past few years, Lenovo Group Ltd. has been listed by Forbes as one of the most reputable companies in the world with its annual “100 Most Reputable Companies” list and has also been named in the Reputation Institute’s top 100 reputable big businesses. Not only is the company growing, but it cares about how it does business too.
2. Ashton Kutcher is a Spokesman and Product Engineer
In what was seen as a surprising move by many, Ashton Kutcher was named Lenovo’s spokesperson and the company’s newest product engineer last year. Kutcher–a big techie who actually studied biochemical engineering for a short time at the University of Iowa–has been working with Lenovo on developing new and improved tablets.
1. Lenovo’s CEO Gives Back
Lenovo Group Ltd. CEO Yang Yuanqing has achieved great success with the company since taking it over in 1997. In 2012, Yang was rewarded for his achievements with a bonus of $3 million, which he then distributed amongst the 10,000 Lenovo employees. Yang did the exact same thing in 2013 when he was rewarded with a $3.25 million bonus.
Photo by Cancan Chu/Getty Images
