Like many IT trade gross sales executives, Wilfredo Sotolongo has a deep and sensible understanding of computing and associated applied sciences. After incomes B.S. (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) and M.S. (Georgia Institute of Technology) levels in aeronautical and mechanical engineering, Sotolongo started his skilled profession at IBM as a robotics product developer in 1985, then joined the corporate’s area gross sales group to bolster IBM’s customer-facing technical experience.
During the next three a long time, Sotolongo held quite a few IBM gross sales management roles, advancing to grow to be VP Global Sales for the corporate’s System x and Pure Systems options. In that place, he was a part of the chief staff that oversaw the sale of the System x group to Lenovo in 2014 and occupied key gross sales management roles in Lenovo’s Data Center Group (now Infrastructure Solutions Group or ISG). In March 2019, Sotolongo turned ISG’s Chief Customer Officer, the place he leads ISG’s world gross sales and advertising and marketing groups.
The evolution of Lenovo Infrastructure Solutions Group
In the next Q&A interview, Wilfredo Sotolongo focuses on the evolution of Lenovo ISG, what units the corporate other than different data-center options distributors and the important roles that strategic Alliance Partners play in Lenovo ISG’s options and providers.
Q: You held quite a few positions at IBM, together with working with the staff overseeing the divestiture of System x to Lenovo in 2014. Since then, you’ve been a senior govt in Lenovo ISG. How is working at Lenovo completely different from working at IBM? Are there any cultural similarities or variations?
Sotolongo: The individuals I labored with at IBM have been a few of the greatest within the trade. We have been happy with the merchandise we developed, merchandise with unsurpassed high quality and efficiency. We additionally maintained a “customer-first” mentality. Many of these individuals joined me as we transitioned to Lenovo and introduced the IBM DNA to Lenovo DCG. But I additionally rapidly realized that Lenovo additionally had a number of capabilities and greatest practices that made us even higher.
Q: Such as?
Sotolongo: Lenovo’s tradition of development and entrepreneurship unleashed us to aggressively assault {the marketplace} with newfound ardour and energies. Our tradition of speedy execution, adapting to the wants of the market, and with an intense deal with buyer satisfaction allowed us to maximise the most effective of each cultures.
Q: Does that forward-focused technique have any draw back?
Sotolongo: Of course, it may be difficult to all the time select properly when it comes to what you retain and what you allow behind, however we predict we discovered the appropriate system as One Lenovo, providing our prospects full Edge to Cloud options.
How the markets have modified
Q: Have the markets for information heart options modified since Lenovo acquired IBM’s System x and Pure Systems enterprise?
Sotolongo: Absolutely. In the final seven years, enterprise computing has shifted with the motion towards software-defined infrastructure, multi-tiered cloud architectures, and the necessity for each dense high-performance compute and extra strong edge processing.
Q: What has Lenovo ISG finished to adapt to these adjustments?
Sotolongo: Succinctly, we have now expanded our attain so we will develop, manufacture, distribute and assist superior options for probably the most subtle IT consumers within the trade.
Q: Can you supply some concrete examples of the corporate’s efforts?
Sotolongo: Lenovo has not solely stored up with market adjustments however is taking a number one place in rising areas, like working carefully with Cloud Service Providers. Capitalizing on our excellent provide chain capabilities, we have now invested in our personal board design and manufacturing factories, permitting us…
