Samsung Electronics Promotes 31 Vice Presidents... Emphasizing Performance-Based and SW Talent Strengthening (Comprehensive 2)

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Samsung Electronics has carried out the largest executive promotion in three years. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the company achieved record-high sales in the third quarter, reflecting a merit-based principle to the fullest extent. By promoting 31 vice presidents, Samsung strengthened its pool of future CEO candidates, and the number of promoted outstanding personnel in the software (SW) field reached 21, setting an 'all-time high' record.

On the 4th, Samsung Electronics conducted its 2021 regular executive personnel appointments, promoting a total of 214 executives. This included 31 vice presidents, 55 executive directors, 111 general managers, 1 fellow, and 16 masters. This is the largest scale of promotions in three years since 2018 (221 people). Previously, 158 people were promoted last year, and 162 earlier this year.

A Samsung Electronics official explained, "Considering the significant improvement in performance compared to last year through timely response to demand and operational efficiency despite the uncertain management environment caused by the global spread of COVID-19, we expanded the scope of promotions."

Samsung Electronics promoted 31 core talents to vice president to strengthen the future CEO candidate pool. In the SET division, 17 people were promoted, including Vice President Go Seung-hwan, head of the VD Business Unit Purchasing Team, who introduced a big data-based panel price prediction system, and Vice President Lee Kang-hyeop, head of the Strategic Marketing Team of the Home Appliance Business Unit, who strengthened and expanded sales of customer-customized innovative products such as Bespoke.

In the DS division, 14 people were promoted, including Vice President Yoon Tae-yang, head of the Global Infrastructure Pyeongtaek Plant, who contributed to productivity improvement through new line setup and equipment optimization problem-solving; Vice President Hwang Ki-hyun, head of the Foundry Process Development Team at the Semiconductor Research Institute, who secured outstanding process development capabilities for next-generation products such as DRAM, NAND, and logic; and Vice President Lee Seok-jun, head of the LSI Development Office of the System LSI Business Unit, who strengthened competitiveness of LSI products such as DDI, power, and security.

Vice President Go Seung-hwan, Head of Purchasing Team, VD Division, Samsung Electronics (left), Vice President Lee Kang-hyeop, Head of Strategic Marketing Team, Home Appliance Division (center), Vice President Yoon Tae-yang, Head of Global Infrastructure, Pyeongtaek Plant (right)

'Merit-based Principle' with 25 Selected for Promotion... Emphasis on Growth Potential

Samsung Electronics boldly promoted 25 talents with excellent performance and growth potential regardless of age or tenure, following the merit-based principle. The number of selected promotions maintained the 20s range, following 24 people earlier this year.

Key figures include Vice President Lee Ki-soo, head of the Home Appliance Business Unit Development Team, who planned and developed innovative appliances such as Bespoke refrigerators and Grande AI washing machines, achieving ultra-fast promotion just two years after becoming an executive director. Vice President Lee Jun-hee (51), head of the Network Business Unit Advanced Development Group, is the youngest among Samsung Electronics' promoted vice presidents. The company explained that he is a wireless communication technology expert who led the commercialization of 5G base station virtualization technology, contributing to securing large orders from global telecom operators such as Verizon in the U.S.

Other notable promotions include Executive Director Jung Ho-jin, head of the Korea General CE Sales Team, who led domestic home appliance sales expansion; Executive Director Lee Jin-yeop, head of the Flash Design Team of the Memory Business Unit, who led V-NAND development; and General Manager Park Sung-je, head of the TV Development Lab of the VD Business Unit, an expert in TV and circuit development who developed the QLED 8K TV using 'AI upscaling' technology.

Lee Ki-su, Vice President and Head of Development Team, Samsung Electronics Home Appliance Division (left), Lee Jun-hee, Vice President and Head of Advanced Development Group, Network Business Division (right)

10 Foreign and Female Executives Promoted... Expansion Trend

Samsung Electronics maintained its expansion trend in promotion opportunities for foreigners and women to strengthen 'diversity and inclusion,' which are the foundation of organizational innovation and sustainable management. This year, a total of 10 new foreign and female executives were appointed.

Despite the consumption sentiment contraction caused by COVID-19, four foreign executives were promoted: Vice President Stinjiano, head of the CE Business at the SEA Corporation (U.S.), who continuously grew U.S. CE sales and improved profitability as a U.S. consumer electronics sales expert; Executive Director Meno, head of the SEBN Corporation in the Netherlands; General Manager Dmitri, head of the CE B2C Team at the SERC Corporation, who solidified the No. 1 position with a 61% market share in the Russian premium TV market; and General Manager Arai, head of the DS Division Japan General Sales Team.

Key newly appointed and promoted female executives include Executive Director Han Sang-sook, deputy head of the VD Business Unit Service Business Team, a service planning expert who contributed to expanding TV service users and strengthening service business competitiveness through service partnership enhancement; and Executive Director Jo In-ha, head of the SENA Corporation in Sweden, a Europe and Latin America sales and marketing expert who enhanced market leadership by continuously growing sales and market share of consumer electronics product lines in four Nordic countries.

Noteworthy is General Manager Kim Eun-ha of the IP Center Licensing Group 2, an intellectual property (IP) expert with legal knowledge who contributed to eliminating business risks and reducing royalty costs through major litigation settlements and negotiations related to mobile and network IP. Also, newly promoted to general manager is Lee Yoon-kyung of Samsung Research Data Analysis Lab, the youngest female executive born in 1979.

Vice President Stinjiano, Head of CE Business, Samsung Electronics SEA Corporation (USA) (left), Executive Director Hansang-suk, Deputy Head of Service Business Team, VD Division (center), Executive Director Yoon Kyung Lee, Data Analysis Research Lab, Samsung Research (right)

Record High 21 Outstanding Software Personnel Promoted

Recruitment of software (SW) talent was a key theme of this executive promotion. To secure future core growth engines centered on SW, the company significantly increased the number of promoted outstanding personnel in this field from 10 last year to 21. This is interpreted as a strategic move to secure future core growth engines centered on AI and other SW technologies.

Vice President Yoon Jang-hyun, head of the Wireless Business Unit SW Platform Team, is an SW development expert who led wireless SW development, developed SW platforms, and enhanced smartphone technology competitiveness and consumer experience through UI advancement. Vice President Lee Jong-yeol, head of the Memory Business Unit SW Development Team, is evaluated to have enhanced the competitiveness of solution products such as solid-state drives (SSD) and universal flash storage (UFS) based on expertise in firmware SW for storage and understanding of algorithms.

Executive Director Kim Jung-sik, head of the Wireless Business Unit Strategic Product SW PL Group, is a wireless SW development expert who was responsible for SW development of flagship smartphones such as Galaxy S20, Note20, Z Flip, and Z Fold2, achieving results that strengthened flagship smartphone competitiveness. Executive Director Kim Kang-tae, head of Samsung Research SE Team, is an SW development and quality expert who enhanced SW development competitiveness through company-wide SW code review and management process advancement and development of code review automation tools.

Vice President Janghyun Yoon, Head of SW Platform Team, Wireless Business Division, Samsung Electronics (left), Vice President Jongyeol Lee, Head of SW Development Team, Memory Business Division (right)

One Samsung R&D Fellow and 16 Masters Newly Appointed

Samsung Electronics also appointed one fellow and 16 masters, the highest experts in the company's research and development (R&D) sector, to strengthen its status as a top technology company.

Newly appointed fellow Yoon Bo-eon of the Semiconductor Research Institute Process Development Office solved difficult problems related to semiconductor CMP, enhancing competitiveness of next-generation semiconductor products. Newly appointed master Choi Hang-seok of the Wireless Business Unit Power Solution Group is an expert in next-generation fast charging technology who developed ultra-fast charging modules for Galaxy S20 and Fold, significantly reducing full charge time and enhancing product competitiveness.

Additionally, Master Bae Geun-hee of the Semiconductor Research Institute Foundry Process Development Team is an etching process expert for logic products who contributed to mass production and securing a technological lead in EUV technology through EUV-applied BEOL patterning and specialized technology development. Master Kim Sang-jun of the Comprehensive Technology Institute Computing Platform Lab possesses outstanding expertise in AI algorithms and system design, successfully securing next-generation chip core technologies such as neuromorphic processors and electronic medicine, leading to their appointment in this promotion.

Samsung Electronics plans to complete its management personnel appointments with this 2021 regular executive promotion and will soon finalize and announce organizational restructuring and position appointments.