[Samsung Personnel] Stability and Performance... Galaxy Legend in Early 50s Holds Key Executive Positions (Comprehensive Report 2)

Samsung Electronics Regular Executive Team Appointment
3-Person CEO Structure Maintained, Galaxy Legend Notae-moon Leads Smartphone Business Headquarters

Samsung Executive Team Personnel Announcement on the 20th (Graphic Design: Photo by Choi Gilsu)

[Asia Economy Reporters Changhwan Lee, Dongwoo Lee] The Samsung Electronics executive reshuffle conducted on the 20th can be summarized as 'organizational stability,' 'infusion of young blood,' and 'thorough performance.' While maintaining the existing three-person CEO system, outstanding executives in their 50s were placed in key positions to pursue organizational innovation.

In the 2020 regular executive reshuffle announced that day, Samsung Electronics maintained the structure of Kim Ki-nam as Vice Chairman of the Device Solutions (DS) division, Kim Hyun-suk as President of the Consumer Electronics (CE) division, and Ko Dong-jin as President of the IT & Mobile (IM) division.

Given the significant internal and external uncertainties, including Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's retrial and multiple trials involving key company executives, the decision to keep the three-person CEO system unchanged reflects Lee's intention to prioritize stability on a broad scale.

◆ 52-year-old President No Tae-moon, the key figure in Galaxy development, appointed as head of smartphone division = Although the overall framework remained unchanged, there were clear changes in details. The most notable was President No Tae-moon, who was previously head of the Wireless Development Office in the IM division, being promoted to head of the Wireless Business Division.

The IM division consists of the Wireless Business Division, responsible for smartphones and PCs, and the Network Business Division, responsible for telecommunications equipment. Until now, President Ko held both the IM division CEO and Wireless Business Division head positions concurrently.

Born in 1968 and 52 years old this year, President No is regarded as Samsung Electronics' top engineer who led the development of the Galaxy series. He spearheaded the development of Samsung's major smartphones from the Galaxy S to the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note10.

Recognized for his contributions to the Galaxy series development, he was promoted to Vice President in 2018, then to President in the 2019 regular reshuffle just one year later, and now, after another year, he has been appointed head of the Wireless Business Division, marking a rapid promotion trajectory. This is seen as a step closer to becoming the next Samsung Electronics CEO.

A Samsung Electronics official said, "President No led the development of the Galaxy series and created the Galaxy myth as a smartphone development expert. While serving as head of the Wireless Development Office, he contributed to strengthening the global competitiveness of the mobile business based on his technological leadership. As a young leader at 52, he is expected to propose innovative strategies and inject new vitality into the organization amid intensifying competition in the smartphone market."

Promotions to president in key company sectors such as semiconductors and 5G also stand out. Hwang Sung-woo, President of Samsung Electronics' Advanced Institute of Technology, who was promoted to president in this reshuffle, holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University. He has served as head of the Nano Electronics Lab and the Device & System Research Center at the Advanced Institute of Technology, and since November 2017, as Vice President of the institute, contributing to discovering future new technologies and enhancing R&D capabilities across Samsung's electronics affiliates.

Until now, Vice Chairman Kim Ki-nam concurrently served as head of the Advanced Institute of Technology, but with this promotion, President Hwang is expected to lead the strengthening of next-generation R&D competitiveness in key business areas such as semiconductors.

Like President Hwang, Jeon Kyung-hoon, President of Samsung Electronics' Network Business Division, was promoted from Vice President to President. A former professor of Electronic Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology, Jeon is a telecommunications expert who led the world's first commercialization of 5G while serving as head of the next-generation research team at Samsung Electronics' DMC Research Center, development team leader of the Network Business Division, and head of the Network Business Division.

Since his appointment as head of the Network Business Division at the end of 2018, President Jeon has strengthened business competitiveness and is expected to lay the foundation for advancing the division as a core business through this promotion.

Choi Yoon-ho, Vice President of Samsung Electronics' Business Support Task Force (TF), was also promoted to President. President Choi is a financial management expert who has worked in Samsung Electronics' Suwon accounting team, UK branch management, Europe general management support team leader, business support team executive, and wireless business support team leader.

Park Hak-gyu, Vice President of Samsung SDS and head of business operations, was promoted to President and appointed head of Samsung Electronics' DS division management support office. President Park is a financial executive who has worked in Samsung Electronics' overseas management group, Mexico branch management, VD business support group leader, wireless business support team leader, and SDS business operations head.

◆ Former journalist Lee In-yong appointed President in charge of external affairs, strengthening Samsung's compliance monitoring role = Another notable change was Lee In-yong, former journalist and current advisor in charge of social contribution, moving to the position of President in charge of Corporate Relations (CR). Lee, a media and public relations expert, previously served as head of the communication team at the now-dissolved Samsung Electronics Future Strategy Office. Since November 2017, following the political scandal, he has overseen social contribution activities.

Lee's move to CR President, following his decision to participate as a member of Samsung's newly launched Compliance Committee, which embodies Samsung's commitment to reform, is interpreted as a move to strengthen external affairs.

Samsung Electronics plans to complete the subsequent executive reshuffle below the Vice President level and organizational restructuring soon after the President-level reshuffle. The follow-up reshuffle is expected to be completed by this week, before the Lunar New Year holiday at the latest.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electro-Mechanics announced that it has nominated Samsung Electronics Vice President Kyung Kye-hyun as its new CEO. President Kyung holds a Ph.D. in Control and Instrumentation from Seoul National University and is a semiconductor design expert who has served as head of the Flash Design Team, Flash Development Office, and Solution Development Office in Samsung Electronics' Memory Business Division.