Behind the Screens: How George Lee Pivoted to Pen Displays and Took the Lead in a Global Niche

At the heart of ViewSonic’s innovation are the people who drive it, and Behind the Screens  is where we meet them. This time, we sat down with George Lee, an executive who wears many hats, General Manager of the Industry Solutions Business Unit and Chairman of both Shenzhen ViewSonic Tech Corporation and EMRight (a ViewSonic-affiliated company).

To George, this role goes beyond management, it’s about enabling human connection through intuitive and intelligent tools. From signature pads to open frame solutions, his work has quietly powered the paperless revolution in finance, hospitality, governance, telecom and beyond.

In this edition, George shares how his leadership journey began with a strategic pivot, how his cross-functional teams work together across borders and how a culture of vision and problem-solving is helping ViewSonic lead in one of the most specialized and essential technology categories today.

1. What brought you to ViewSonic? What changes did you inspire?

I joined ViewSonic in 2010 after over a decade in the monitor and display industry, including previous roles at BenQ and Pou Chen Group in Europe. I was initially asked to manage the European market, including ViewSonic’s TV offerings.

Large-size TVs were trending, but it was also a fiercely competitive space. Despite some success, we made the strategic decision to pivot away from TVs and instead focus on a more niche area — pen displays.

We saw the future in digital signatures and paperless workflows. This shift allowed us to carve out a space where we could truly lead. While we started with signature pads, today we command over half of the global signature pen display market in sectors like banking, telecom, hospitality and healthcare.

2. What kind of products were being created with this shift?

The pivot drove paperless front-desk experiences through two core product lines:

• Pen displays — interactive screens designed for digital handwriting, e-signatures, and drawing are paired with high-performance stylus pens that feel natural. Together they deliver precise, intuitive and reliable input for front-line service staff, educators, artists and more.
• Open frame displays — customizable metal frame displays, integrated into kiosks, ATMs and other self-service terminals, offer high reliability for industries shifting toward paperless, automated workflows.

What truly sets us apart is our ability to provide complete end-to-end customization. Every solution, from stylus to screen, is carefully tailored to meet the specific needs of our partners. That’s why we’re the trusted technology provider for many of Europe’s leading banks and advanced sectors in China.

3. How would you describe your leadership style? How does it influence the way your team works?

I believe in vision-driven leadership, especially in a technology-led company. Engineers and R&D teams need to believe we’re building something real and meaningful, which is why I always emphasize a clear and honest direction.

That perspective became even more defined when James (Chairman and CEO of ViewSonic) and Bonny (COO of ViewSonic) appointed me as Chairman of VTC. Shortly after I took on the role, the company’s founder departed and took several engineers to start a competing business. In response, I worked closely with trusted colleagues, including Thomas Hung and Eric Chen from the BU, and Daniel Wu from VTC, to rebuild the organization from the ground up and restore customer confidence. Through persistence, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose, we regained momentum and reestablished our position as a leading provider of signature solutions, while the competing company gradually faded from the market. Facing those challenges strengthened my resilience and taught me to raise the bar, not because of external pressure, but because I deeply believed in the value of what we were building.

For example, a client in the Netherlands needed displays for outdoor terminals that could withstand direct sunlight, rain, heat, and freezing temperatures. While this wasn’t part of our standard specification, we adapted the back panel design to meet the challenge.

That’s the mindset we foster: keep a clear vision, solve problems together and grow through challenges.

4. What makes your team unique — and what’s it like to be part of it?

We’re proud to be a goal-driven, tight-knit team. Our success is only possible thanks to the close collaboration among EMRight for IC design, VTC for full device, panel, and PCP (Panel Control Board) design, and ViewSonic Taiwan for sales and product marketing.

Together, we’re building a business that combines custom hardware, deep technical know-how and global insights to scale our business and turn our vision into reality.

5. What kind of people thrive in your business unit? How do you spot someone who’s a great fit?

We look for people who embrace challenges and move forward with discipline. Skills are important, but attitude is everything. If someone is curious, willing to solve problems, and eager to learn across functions, they’ll thrive with us.

We need people who want to innovate and grow.

6. Can you share a recent moment that made you especially proud of your team?

One of our proudest achievements was improving our first pass yield from 70% to 98%; a goal that took us three years to reach. It required redesigning processes at the engineering level and aligning everyone from production to QA. It was a clear sign that when the fundamentals are strong, everything else, including business performance, follows.

7. If someone’s thinking of joining your team, what would you want them to know?

In a technology-led company like ours, vision is essential. That’s why I always share a glimpse of our roadmap with those considering joining.

Over the next three years, we’re focused on four strategic areas: strengthening our leadership in signature pads, expanding into open frame displays for self-service and embedded solutions, supplying OEM stylus pens to top global brands, and advancing military-grade tablets. These pillars reflect both where the market is heading and where we intend to lead.

But beyond strategy and innovation, what defines us is a clear vision and the mindset to tackle challenges together. We stay focused, move with purpose, and solve problems as a team. If that resonates with you, you’ll find a place here to grow and make an impact.

Final Thoughts

That’s it for this edition of Behind the Screens. We hope this conversation with George offered a deeper look into how ViewSonic’s Industry Solutions BU is quietly transforming some of the world’s most essential industries. From leading in a global niche to embracing challenges and building intuitive tools for the digital era, the team continues to drive meaningful impact.

At the heart of it is a cross-functional team that solves tough problems with clarity and purpose. Whether it’s customizing open frame displays for European banks or advancing military-grade tablets, they’re not just responding to demand, they’re setting the standard.

Stay tuned for the next edition of Behind the Screens to meet more of the people shaping ViewSonic’s future from the inside out.

At a Glance: How George and ViewSonic’s Industrial Solutions Team Lead the Paperless Revolution

• A specialized business unit focused on digital handwriting and embedded display technologies, serving finance, telecom, hospitality and government sectors with precision and reliability.
• IC design (via EMRight), full device and panel engineering (via VTC) and sales/product marketing (via ViewSonic Taiwan) work together to provide fully-customizable, end-to-end solutions.
• Strategically pivoted from the TV business to pen displays, achieving half of global market share and becoming a trusted provider for leading banks in Europe and advanced industries in China.
• Fueled by a culture of vision and practical problem-solving, cross-functional teams work together to see, embrace and solve problems with focus and purpose.
• Looking ahead, the team is centered on four strategic pillars: strengthening leadership in signature pads, expanding open frame displays, supplying OEM stylus pens and advancing military-grade tablets. They’re setting the stage for future growth and global impact.