Doing business with Matt Codrington of Lenovo

Title: Managing director ANZ, Lenovo

Age: 42

Where were you educated? Adelaide, South Australia.

Where do you live? Sydney, NSW with my wife and beautiful family for the last year. Previous to this we spent the last four years in Tokyo, Japan and before that Singapore for two years allowing me to get some great exposure to markets and best practice in neighbouring cultures.

What are your interests away from work? Family (kids), rugby, tennis, travel.

Don’t fear change. There is opportunity in change. Matt Codrington,Lenovo

What are you reading at the moment? Nothing to Envy, A book by Barbara Demick about the lives of North Koreans that humanises an oppressed people by sharing individual stories about a culture that is almost unknown – at least to me.

What is your favourite movie? Why? The Godfather. Strong characters, emotion and atmosphere. It continues to be the benchmark, in my opinion. And a horse’s head.

What is the most memorable place you’ve been to? Ishinomaki (North Japan). I lived/worked in Japan for four years and after the earthquake/tsunami volunteered to help in one of the cities most affected by the tsunami. Terrible tragedy, but ironically, was also filled with hope. The social unity was compelling, and the devastation was difficult to see.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Don’t fear change. There is opportunity in change.

Professionally, who do you admire most? Bill Clinton – unstoppable and great integrity.

How long have you been working in IT? 15 years, four diverse companies.

If you weren’t working in IT, What would you be doing? Science. I don’t have a scientific qualification, but the challenge would interest me greatly.

What was your first job? Packing shelves in a supermarket. My first IT role was with HP as a business development manager.

What’s the best thing about working with IT executives? Defining strategies that add value to the business. Acting with speed.

What is the worst? Unclear strategy that wastes time and money.

What is your favourite networking situation? A good game of rugby.

What will you do when you retire? Definitely travel as much as I can with my wife. Then build a V8 convertible from the 1970s – something that would growl.

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