Lenovo has announced the formation of its executive leadership team for Saudi Arabia, marking a significant milestone in the company’s regional growth strategy and its intentions to establish Regional Headquarters (RHQ) in Riyadh. Set to be situated in Al Majdoul Tower, the RHQ underscores Lenovo’s long-term commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and advancing the Kingdom’s digital transformation and economic diversification agenda.
This announcement is part of Lenovo’s strategic partnership with ALAT, a Public Investment Fund (PIF)-owned entity, aimed at accelerating Lenovo’s ongoing transformation and further expanding its global manufacturing footprint. As a facet of this collaboration, Lenovo and ALAT broke ground in February 2025 on a 200,000 sqm advanced manufacturing facility in the “Riyadh Integrated” area of the city, operated by the Special Integrated Logistics Zone (SILZ). This facility is expected to begin producing millions of “Saudi Made” devices by 2026.
Driving digital ambitions in Saudi Arabia
Simultaneously, Lenovo is advancing plans to establish its RHQ in Riyadh. The RHQ will bolster Lenovo’s broader regional strategy, encompassing investments in a flagship retail space, VIP customer center, R&D, marketing, and strategic partnerships across Saudi Arabia. The headquarters will be located in the prestigious Al Majdoul Tower, which is already home to several PIF entities, government organizations, and tech companies.
Lenovo has appointed Lawrence Yu as Head of Regional Headquarters, while Giovanni Di Filippo has been named Vice President & General Manager for Lenovo Saudi Arabia, and Zoran Radumilo has been appointed Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Lenovo Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Lawrence Yu, who has been with Lenovo for 15 years, played a crucial role in finalizing Lenovo’s strategic partnership with ALAT and in the planning of the Riyadh manufacturing site. Previously serving as General Manager of Lenovo Retail Solutions globally, Mr. Yu led the division to record-breaking performance, achieving 40 percent annual revenue growth over five years. Under his leadership, the division also received the prestigious Edison Award for Commercial Technology, marking only the second time in Lenovo’s history that this award was won. Mr. Yu, who holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, has also collaborated closely with Lenovo’s Chairman and CEO during a transformative period for the company, contributing to major strategic deals and global expansion. In his current role, he oversees Lenovo’s regional headquarters and manufacturing milestones, driving the company’s footprint in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s industrial and digital ambitions.
Focus on key verticals
Mr. Di Filippo will be responsible for all business units within Lenovo Saudi Arabia, including the Intelligent Devices Group (IDG), Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG), and Solutions & Services Group (SSG). With a proven track record as President of EMEA ISG, where he led market share growth from 6 percent to 14 percent, Mr. Di Filippo will spearhead Lenovo’s hypergrowth strategy in the Kingdom, fostering cross-portfolio synergies and advancing the company’s regional sales organization.
Mr. Radumilo brings over 25 years of global enterprise technology leadership to his role as CTO. His expertise encompasses AI, cloud, and software solutions, with a strong focus on emerging markets. Before joining Lenovo, he served as President of Global Emerging Markets and EMEA South & LATAM at industrial AI and software company IFS, aiding in the company’s growth from a $1 billion to a $10 billion valuation. At Lenovo Saudi Arabia, Mr. Radumilo will lead sector-specific go-to-market strategies across key verticals, including government entities, energy, telecommunications, smart cities, and financial services.
Commitment to Vision 2030
The leadership appointments align with Lenovo’s plans to establish regional headquarters in Riyadh. The RHQ will be located in Al Majdoul Tower, known for its iconic architecture and advanced infrastructure, reflecting Lenovo’s commitment to operational excellence and innovation. Al Majdoul Tower is home to multiple PIF entities, as well as the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and Humain, positioning Lenovo at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s innovation and industrial transformation landscape. The headquarters not only enhances Lenovo’s operational capabilities in the Kingdom but also reinforces its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by fostering innovation, collaboration, and regional leadership from a central, future-ready location.
“The confirmation of Al Majdoul Tower as the future location of Lenovo’s Regional Headquarters, alongside the appointment of our new executive leadership team for Saudi Arabia and RHQ, marks a major milestone in our regional strategy,” stated Matt Dobrodziej, senior vice president & president, Lenovo EMEA. “Through our strategic partnership with ALAT and investment in advanced manufacturing, we are proud to contribute to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by supporting industrial diversification, accelerating digital transformation, and enabling sustainable economic growth. Our initiatives in Saudi Arabia, including the RHQ, flagship retail space, and the Riyadh-based manufacturing facility are projected to contribute up to $10 billion to non-oil GDP by 2030, reinforcing our commitment to the Kingdom’s long-term development.”
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Growth in ICT sector
Further highlighting the importance of Lenovo’s expansion in Saudi Arabia, recent data from the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) indicates that the Kingdom’s ICT sector grew by approximately 7.5 percent in 2024, establishing the country as the leading digital economy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. This growth is anticipated to accelerate with government initiatives such as the National Digital Transformation Unit, which aims for a 75 percent digital adoption rate across public services by 2027. According to reports from the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the tech sector have risen by 18 percent year-on-year, reflecting growing investor confidence in the country’s market and regulatory reforms aligned with Vision 2030. Lenovo’s investment aligns with these macroeconomic trends, underscoring the company’s role not only as a manufacturer but also as a vital partner in cultivating a local innovation ecosystem.
Furthermore, the International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasts that Saudi Arabia’s smart city initiatives, including NEOM and The Red Sea Project, will generate an estimated $135 billion in technology spending through 2030, with a special emphasis on AI, cloud computing, and IoT—areas where Lenovo’s newly appointed CTO, Zoran Radumilo, is expected to drive groundbreaking solutions.
IT infrastructure spending trends
Industry analysts at Gartner have identified the Gulf region as one of the fastest-growing centers for IT infrastructure spending globally, with expected compound annual growth rates (CAGR) exceeding 12 percent through 2028. Complementing this data, Lenovo’s regional strategies closely align with Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning startup ecosystem, energized by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority’s (SAMA) fintech sandbox and innovation labs designed to nurture local tech talent and entrepreneurship. Lenovo’s RHQ is poised to become a hub for collaborations with startups and government innovation programs, enhancing knowledge transfer and significantly contributing to the Kingdom’s ambitious human capital development plans, as outlined by the Saudi Vision 2030 Human Capability Development Program.
