About Us
In 2006 Acer celebrates 30 years of making history in the IT Industry. 30 years of making history in the fast-paced IT industry shows that Acer has walked in the right direction. Its far-reaching strategy of focussing on R&D and marketing development laid the foundations and created a company ready to embrace the challenges of the future.
Founded in 1976, Acer ranks among the world's top four branded PC vendors and second in EMEA Region (source Gartner 3Q 2006). In 2000, Acer spun-off its manufacturing operation to focus its resources on developing technologically advanced, user-friendly solutions. The decision to support the sales of its product lines through specific marketing activities that best utilise distribution channels, has allowed Acer to achieve excellent results worldwide.
Overcoming the barriers between people and technology: this is Acer’s long-term mission, to allow anyone to use and benefit from technology. Acer is renowned for the development and manufacture of sophisticatedly and intuitively designed, easy to use products.
Acer is the EMEA region leader in the notebook sector, holding 20,9% market share in Q3 2006. In the global PC market Acer ranks first in Russia, the Czech Republic and in Poland. In the notebook segment Acer has strengthened its leadership in EMEA by ranking first in eleven (11) countries – Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Russia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Greece and Poland – second in South Africa, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Turkey and Sweden and now third in Hungary.
Acer’s product range includes PC notebooks and Desktops, servers and storage systems, monitors, peripheral devices, digital devices, LCD TVs and e-business solutions for business, Government, Education and home users. Acer employs 5,600 people throughout the world and has created a consolidated sales and service network in more than 100 countries. Revenues reached US $9,7 billion in 2005.
Gianfranco Lanci
Gianfranco Lanci has been President of Acer Inc. since 1st January 2005.
Starting as Acer Italy Managing Director he was selected as President of Acer EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) in 2003. Also in 2003, he was nominated as President of Acer Inc. OBG (International Operation Business Group), coordinating sales & marketing activities in Europe, MEA and the Americas.
Gianfranco Lanci’s recent promotion to President of Acer Inc. is recognition of the excellent performance results on the European market, his distinguished managerial style, superior business model and efforts to extend these elements to the Acer group around the world.
Born in 1954 in Turin, Italy he received his degree in Civil Engineering from the Turin Polytechnic University, and immediately began working at Texas Instruments Italia in 1981, becoming the Systems Division sales and marketing manager at age 35. In 1991 he became the country manager for the Portable computers and Printers Division (PPD) in Italy, the Middle East and Africa, established in 1989 to market notebooks and printers, leading Texas Instruments Italia to the top of the “portable” sector. At the beginning of 1995 he headed Texas Instrument’s Personal Productivity Products division for Southern Europe (Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey), the Middle East and Africa from the Agrate Brianza headquarters. In 1996 he became the EMEA manager for this division.
From 1997, as Acer Italy’s Managing Director, Gianfranco Lanci created a strong organisation, expanding and consolidating relationships with channel partners on all levels. His continued efforts, aimed to promote the company’s brand, have helped Acer to become the Italian market leader. In 2000, after being nominated the President of Acer Europe, Gianfranco Lanci expanded the winning strategy employed in Italy to help in creating a strong European organisation and, following his nomination as President of Acer EMEA, in the Middle East and South Africa. European market profits have reached record highs since his nomination in 2002.
2006 version
Aspire E-series desktop PCs and CU-6530 digital still camera have been awarded with the renowned Red Dot for outstanding product design. Presented by Germany's Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen (DZNW, the quality label is awarded annually for superior design quality and innovative design in the Red Dot Design Award international competition.
The Acer TravelMate 3000 received IN 2005 one of the world’s most sought-after design awards – the Red Dot – for design quality and innovation. This award confirms the global recognition Acer has received for its high quality products and “customer-centric” philosophy.
The Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany is the founder of the Red Dot award. With over fifty years of activities, the Centre is one of the oldest and most famous design institutes in Europe.
Acer is proud to announce that the Acer TravelMate 8200 and the Acer 5-Series LCD Monitor (AL1751 and AL1951s) won the iF Product Design Award 2006 (International Forum Design). The iF seal of design excellence has become a symbol for superior quality and developed into a trend-setting design competition over the past five decades that distinguishes the best designs and represents a company’s efforts in innovation.
The Ferrari 1000 and Ferrari 5000 notebook series have been awarded by the Good Design award. The "Good Design Award" is Japan's only comprehensive design evaluation and commendation system. This system itself has its origins in the "Good Design Selection System" (generally known as the "G-Mark System") instituted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1957.
The Aspire iDea 500 has been nominated a winner of the Computex Best Choice Award that selects Taiwan's best IT product on the overseas markets, and is one of the most important events at the annual Computex Technology Show.
