Acer UK chief eyes mobile platform dominance

Managing director Bobby Watkins tells assembled partners that embattled vendor will come out fighting

PC vendor Acer has spoken out about its recent channel inventory woes, claiming its decision to publicly address the issue will ensure the company is still around in 10 years' time.

Speaking at the firm's summer partner conference in Windsor today, Acer's UK managing director Bobby Watkins admitted the firm's recent press coverage may have led some partners to question its future.

"It is true we are making bold decisions, and it is also true that we are making those decisions and being upfront about them by announcing them externally," he said.

"It is also true that we are going to be around and stronger in 10 years' time than we are today."

He also stressed that the firm is outperforming its competition and gunning for growth.

"Between 2002 and 2010, in simple maths, we have achieved 24 per cent compound annual growth and grown from a couple of billion dollars to $19.9bn (£12.4bn) globally," said Watkins.

"All of our competitors would give their right arms to have a set of revenue figures that look anything like this," he added.

In particular, Watkins said Acer wants to establish itself as one of the leaders in the commercial and consumer smartphone and tablet PC markets.

"In terms of our strategy, we want to grow and all our thinking is about how to achieve that," he added.