The Skinny cringes every time he reads a story that describes Lenovo as a “Chinese company” or “Chinese-owned company.” It’s a truly international conglomerate with a huge and growing presence in the United States. Its management team is a remarkable mix of executives from cultures around the world. That blend of cultures, languages and outlooks has helped make Lenovo the world’s No. 1 PC seller in just eight years after it acquired IBM’s failing PC business.

And at the top of the company steering it to continued success despite a wide range of challenges is Yang Yuanqing, who just happens to own a home in the Triangle. His children have attended school in the United States.

He is  a global citizen as his company is a global corporation.

Once called the “Bill Gates of China,” Yang seems bound for international recognition not only in business but perhaps other areas of leadership and philanthropy as well.

No disrespect is intended for China in that “cringe” remark, mind you. After all the company was born there does most of its business in the world’s most populous country. But Lenovo has not become the technological and marketing force it is because of a Chinese-focused view.

“YY Gives back”

Chairman and CEO “YY,” as he is called by Lenovo employees, has taken Lenovo to the No. 1 spot among PC sellers worldwide and has lofty aims for smartphones and tablets as well in what he calls the “PC Plus” era of Internet-connected devices.

And Yang continues to value the contribution of Lenovo’s employees at ALL levels. 

Just last week he shared a multi-million dollar bonus of his own with some 10,000 employees for the second consecutive year. The Skinny says that generosity in today’s climate of corporate greed and abuse is worth a tip of the cap out of respect.

That’s class. Pure and symbol. Brilliant management, too. After all, YY shows that he cares.

When Bloomberg magazine recently published its list of leading global “Thinkers,” the omission of Yang struck The Skinny as a huge oversight.

But YY clearly has been in the sights of the leaders at the distinguished Brookings Institute, a highly regarded global think tank based in Washington. On Tuesday, the institute said Yang had become a member of its International Advisory Council.

“A Truly Global Citizen”

Strobe Talbott, a former diplomat and widely published author who is president of the Brookings Institution said of Yang:

“A true global citizen, Yang Yuanqing will contribute a wealth of experience and insight as a member of the Brookings IAC, providing invaluable guidance and leadership to our efforts.”

Added Brookings Chairman John Thornton: “Yuanqing is a proven global leader, who has elevated Lenovo to the top of its industry by developing a global strategy, putting together a notably diverse leadership team, and formulating a distinct perspective on many of the technological issues confronting the global community.”

Yang has received many honors over the years, and given that he is just reaching him prime as a business leader at age 48, who is to say many more aren’t part of his destiny?

The International Advisory Council includes leaders from 25 countries and exists to help Brookings discuss pressing matters of global concern.

“I’m honored to be part of the Brookings Institution’s International Advisory Council,” Yang said of his selection. “As a leading and diverse global company, Lenovo has both the opportunity and responsibility to actively participate in discussions and programs that can help improve social, cultural and economic conditions. This role with such an esteemed organization will allow Lenovo to share its unique global point of view and, I hope, make a meaningful contribution to Brookings’s most important initiatives.”

So here’s another tip of The Skinny’s Cap to YY. Well done. Well deserved.

[LENOVO ARCHIVE: Check out eight years of Lenovo stories as reported in WRALTechWire.]