The power of ten - enterpriseinnovation.net

COVERSTORY“The Creative Life”: Huizhou’s TCLTCL has leveraged M&A to sell their products under the Thomson andAlcatel brands...globally By Stefan HammondE porationis a global leader andtechnology innovator in consumerelectronics, mobile communica- ploysmore than 50,000 people in overters,20 manufacturing bases, and more2008 revenue: RMB 38.414 billion(US$768 million)Employees worldwide: 55,000countries - one of the world’s leading produc- merged with several recognized brandsand businesses including Thomsontelevisions and Alcatel mobile phones. US$5.63 billion (including 14.36 millionTV sets and 13.7 million mobilehandsets) to over 100 million consumersworldwide.Strategy and integration balizationhas featured industrial development stages, from the accumu-stage of initial branding by developingrising markets in southeast Asia andbuilding up our own brand, sales channels,etc.”With this experience in the process ofteam, improved its functional capabilities,and honed its abilities to handlecomplicated problems and challengesin a global environment, said Li.creating a global structure with certain-mizingbusiness structure, and improv- for independent innovation.”a global brand and sales and marketingnationalmanagement capability, buildingup our talent pool and strengtheningour brand-building capability.”Resources and challengesAlthough Li acknowledged that “the on overseas business...we have gained North American market, a turnaroundfrom the previous operating loss.”“Up to now, we have achieved a significantproduction and sales network globally,which spread to dozens of countriesand regions throughout the world,” said20 manufacturing bases, over 55,000employees and more than 40 sales agen- mentof supply chains (product designand manufacturing, logistics supply,quality assurance, and product innovationand support).”TCL’s Li: TCL’s globalization has broughtgreat momentum for further growthThe economic situation notwith- was over 4 million globally, increasing233.2% over the same period of theprevious year. In the mobile market,sales volume reached 14 million, an increaseof 15.3% over the same periodof last year. tionhas brought great momentum forfurther growth, which not only manifestsitself in visible ways, such as technology,management and human recourse,but also in something invisible,” noted overseas operations—we have foundits core competitiveness in the globalcontest after twist and turns, which willchallenges.24 Computerworld Hong Kong Sept 2009 www.cw.com.hk