Lenovo has named a new leader for its struggling Triangle-based server group and its mobile business as well as a new chief legal officer and chief technology officer in a series of executive appointments disclosed early Thursday when it reported latest quarterly earnings.

Gerry Smith, the veteran executive who has held several different management roles within Lenovo, was named to a new position as executive vice president and chief operating office of PCs and smart devices.

Replacing him as head of the Data Server Group, which is responsible for server sales and related services, is Kirk Skaugen, a former executive at Intel.

Lenovo acknowledged that Data Center Group sales fell 8 percent to $1.1 billion year-over-year and the group lost $141 million.

“With these changes Gerry Smith, currently EVP of DCG, moves to be EVP and COO PCSD (PCs & Smart Devices) using his knowledge, experience and proven track record to lead Lenovo global operations and operations for our core businesses, PCs and tablets,” Lenovo noted.

In the mobile business, Xudong Chen is now senior vice president of global services. He had led mobile as co-president and senior vice president.

Replacing him is Gina Qiao, who had been senior vice president for human resources. The Lenovo veteran had previously served as chief strategy officer and as head of marketing in China.

“In the last 12 months Xudong has stabilized the mobile business in China and will use his experience there to ensure we build a world-class and customer-centric service organization,” Lenovo said.

Lenovo mobile sales fell 12 percent year-over-year to $2 billion in its most recent quarter but did improve 20 percent from the previous quarter.

Since acquiring Google’s Motorola Mobility business two years ago, smartphone sales have plunged, dropping Lenovo out of the world;s top five among device servers.Several management changes and reorganizations also have taken place in the group.

New faces

Other new appointments include:

  • Laura Quatela as Chief Legal Officer.

Quatela previouls had served as chief legal officer and executive vice president for intellectual property at Alcatel-Lucent as well as general counsel at Eastman Kodak.

  • Yong Rui as chief technology officer

Yong had most recently served as deputy managing director for Microsoft Research Asia.

Young succeeds longtime Lenovo and IBM veteran Peter Hortensius, who transferred to the data center group in March.

“We have … added several of the industry’s top minds into Lenovo, and are continuing to strengthen our leadership team,” Lenovo Chairman and CEO Yang Yuanqing said in a statement. “We remain confident in our vision, our strategy and our team’s ability to achieve new heights.”

  • MORE COVERAGE: Meet the new leaders