Lenovo Group has hired Gerry Smith, former vice president of Dell's Singapore design center and displays unit, as senior vice president of its global supply chain, Purchasing.com reported.

He is replacing Liu Jun, who has taken a one-year sabbatical to pursue advanced executive studies. "Gerry is a seasoned executive in PC and peripherals supply-chain management, with a solid track record delivering in the areas that Lenovo is currently targeting for improvements, particularly serviceability and cost reductions," says William Amelio, CEO of the Raleigh, N.C.-based Lenovo, in a statement. The company, the world's third-largest personal computer maker, also has named Dell's former marketing chief for Asia, David Schmoock, to oversee its new Center of Excellence for supply and demand forecasting, pricing and inventory management.