Steve Ward is a British businessman who previously served as the Chief Executive Officer

Chief executive officer

A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...

 of Lenovo

Lenovo Group

Lenovo Group Limited is a Chinese multinational personal technology company that develops, manufactures and markets desktop and notebook computers, workstations, servers, storage drives, IT management software, and other related products and services. Lenovo was incorporated in Hong Kong in 1988...

. For 26 years Ward managed a number of key products and divisions before being appointed Chief Information Officer of IBM

IBM

International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...

. Ward's credentials include being an assistant to IBM Chairman at the firm's headquarter's in Armonk, New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

. Lenovo's global headquarters are located in Purchase, New York

Purchase, New York

Purchase, New York is a hamlet of the town of Harrison, in Westchester County. Its ZIP code is 10577. Its name is derived from Harrison's purchase, for Harrison could have as much land as he could ride in one day...

. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University

California Polytechnic State University

California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....

, San Luis Obispo, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

.

In early September 2005, Ward authorized the donation of 1,500 Lenovo Notebook Computers to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...

, so that displaced people could communicate their status with family members and friends.

Ward was succeeded as Lenovo's CEO on December 20, 2005, by William Amelio

William Amelio

William J. Amelio is president and CEO of CHC Helicopter, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Amelio took over leadership of the international helicopter services company in August 2010 following a career spanning more than three decades in technology industries.-Corporate postings:CHC Helicopter,...

.
Ward currently serves on the Board of Directors of E Ink

E Ink

E Ink is a specific proprietary type of electronic paper manufactured by E Ink Corporation, founded in 1997 based on research started at the MIT Media Lab...

, E2open

E2open

E2open, Inc. is a privately-owned software company headquartered in Foster City, California. E2open specializes in on-demand multi-enterprise solutions for global demand-supply networks...

, and Carpenter Technology.