Lenovo outlines Khalil’s role in new Middle East set-up

Lenovo has revealed that former Logitech chief Ahmed Khalil will be responsible for managing the channel and driving its indirect sales as he takes his place in the PC vendor's new-look senior management team in the Middle East.

Khalil quit his role at the peripherals vendor last month to return to a PC sector that he knows well having led Toshiba's Middle East operation and worked briefly for Fujitsu Siemens. Lenovo has confirmed that he will serve as regional manager for its transactional business, with a focus on strengthening its performance in the SMB and consumer segments.

Lenovo works through a channel network of 35 partners around the region, and Khalil will cover the GCC, Levant, Egypt and Pakistan from the firm's MEEP headquarters in Dubai. His appointment comes at a significant time for Lenovo given the impending launch of its consumer business in the Middle East region.

"Lenovo continues to enhance its partner commitment through innovative programs, unique product portfolios and a highly profitable transactional business model," stated Khaled Kamel, who recently took over as regional boss from Imtiaz Ghani. "Ahmed's role will be to build on this commitment, and expand the channel across the region with a view to even further growth and expansion across the Middle East. A huge focus area will be a massive recruitment drive for the upcoming consumer products launch, which is set to take Lenovo's Middle East business to a whole new level."

Khalil believes the rate of growth being recorded in the SMB and consumer PC sector offers Lenovo a strong opportunity for growth if the vendor can put the right channel policies in place. "I am looking to capitilise on our already strong share of these emerging markets bringing new and innovative channel schemes that provide an efficient and competitive route to market," he said. "By building on existing relationships between Lenovo and its partners and focusing on fostering new ones we will drive Lenovo's growth and enhance our reach to customers."