Acer splits in two

Acer announced the division of its core and new businesses into two groups. The new structure will address the diverse development needs of IT hardware products versus cloud services, smart devices and e-businesses, allowing for each group the independence to focus within its ecosystem. The division will encourage the optimization of each business model, enhance the allocation of operational resources, propel organic growth, and accelerate the overall company transformation. 

The Core Business umbrella shall consist of: the IT Products Business that encompasses notebooks, desktops and tablet PCs, and its R&D; the digital display and server products businesses; and corporate business planning operations. Separately, the New Business umbrella will consist of: BYOC and Smart Products Business that encompasses Acer’s BYOC™ cloud services, smartphones and wearable devices; the value lab, and e-business. 

The business entities and leaderships under the core business and new business umbrellas, effective on March 25, are: 

Core Business – for IT product development

• IT Products Business for notebooks, desktops and tablet PCs, and its R&D - led by Jerry Kao, president
• Digital Display Business including monitors and projectors – led by Victor Chien who is promoted as president
• Server Products Business – led by Evis Lin, general manager
• Corporate Business Planning and Operations – led by Tiffany Huang, president

New Business – for the integration of cloud services and platforms, and the development of smartphones and wearable devices with value-added IoT applications

• eBusiness Business – led by Ben Wan, president
• BYOC and Smart Products Business – co-headed by presidents Maverick Shih and ST Liew
• Value Lab for the vertical and horizontal integration of technology for new businesses – led by Dr. RC Chang, chief technology officer

At the same time, Acer will establish a wholly-owned investment holding company to manage the operation and investment of new businesses, and provide transparency of the new business performance. 

Finally, Acer will appoint Andrew Hou, current general manager of the Stationary Computing Business Unit, to lead the Pan Asia Pacific operations. In his new capacity as president of Acer’s Pan Asia Pacific region, Mr. Hou will oversee the operations of Asia Pacific countries, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.