The world’s largest PC maker Lenovo announced on August 18 that John Thornton has been appointed as the company’s independent non-executive director and a member of its Nomination and Governance Committee for a three-year term, according to Chinese news agency Caixin. This marks the 69-year-old Thornton’s singular presence as an incumbent on the board of a Chinese company. Formerly the co-president and director of Goldman Sachs until 2003, Thornton is recognized for his deep ties with China spanning over 30 years, Lenovo said in a statement. In recent years, Thornton has been an active intermediary in fostering communication between Chinese and US societies. During the press conference on August 18, Lenovo’s chairman Yang Yuanqing stated that Thornton’s extensive background across various domains, including global partnerships, risk management, government, and regulatory affairs, would provide the company with a substantial reserve of global leadership, perspectives, and insights. [Caixin, in Chinese]
Related