Lenovo Group Ltd. To Establish Worldwide HQ in Westchester

WHITE PLAINS-On Thursday morning, the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency approved incentives that will facilitate Lenovo Group Limited to sublease approximately 40,000 sf of space at 1 Manhattanville Rd. in Purchase. The space will eventually be used as the temporary worldwide headquarters for the firm that is in the process of acquiring IBM’s Global Personal Computer (PC) Division.Steve Foley, with Lenovo, says Lenovo Group Ltd., currently headquartered in Beijing, China, is in negotiations for the space at Related Properties’ 1 Manhattanville Rd. building that was formerly occupied by R.H. Donnelley. He says that once the $1.25-billion sale of the IBM PC Division has closed, the sublease space in Purchase will become the temporary global headquarters for Lenovo, the third largest PC manufacturer worldwide. Mark Weingarten, a White Plains attorney representing Lenovo, said at the IDA session that Lenovo is in the process of looking for a build-to-suit location in Westchester County. Foley confirmed that Lenovo is looking in Westchester County for its permanent worldwide headquarters after spending some time looking at possible sites in the New York area and neighboring states. In addition to sales and use tax exemptions being offered by the IDA, New York State’s Empire State Development Corp. is also offering some assistance, Westchester County officials noted.Lenovo Group Ltd.’s current headquarters location in Beijing will be called Lenovo China after the transaction with IBM closes and will focus on the personal computer market in Greater China. Lenovo International, to be based in Raleigh, NC where most of IBM PC Division’s marketing, sales and manufacturing personnel are based, will have responsibilities for IBM ThinkPad, ThinkCentre and Lenovo products in approximately 160 countries.Initially, Lenovo plans to bring in 50 employees from IBM’s Personal Computer Division and later plans to add another 50 positions, including some new hires, according to IDA officials. Steve Ward, currently senior vice president and general manager of IBM Personal Systems Group, is the chief executive officer designate of Lenovo Group Ltd. He will relocate to the company’s worldwide headquarters in Purchase once the transactions are finalized.Lenovo’s intent to establish its worldwide headquarters in Westchester follows a trip to China by a delegation of county government officials at the end of March. During the trip Westchester County executive Andy Spano and Economic Development Department director Salvatore Carrera met with Lenovo officials in Beijing.At the April 7 session, the IDA also approved inducements to BridgeCom International, which is looking to relocate from offices at 115 Stevens Ave. in Valhalla to approximately 57,293 sf of space at the former Altria Group headquarters in Rye Brook (800 Westchester Ave.) owned by the RPW Group of White Plains. The lease deal between RPW Group and BridgeCom International has not been finalized. BridgeCom is represented by William Cuddy of CB Richard Ellis, who had no comment on the pending deal.The IDA also finalized a resolution that will provide tax exemptions to Cappelli Enterprises’ 221 Main St. (Renaissance Square) project to be built in Downtown White Plains. The mixed-use project will include a hotel, luxury condominiums, office and some retail space and will be located across the street from the Valhalla-based developer’s City Center development.