Samsung Electronics' '3 Top' Sudden Replacement... Chairman Kim Ki-nam Promoted

Han Jong-hee and Jung Hyun-ho Promoted to President and Vice Chairman... Responsible for Set and Business Support TF, Respectively

Kim Ki-nam, Chairman of Samsung Electronics

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Samsung Electronics has made a surprise reshuffle by replacing the three CEOs and division heads Kim Ki-nam (DS), Kim Hyun-suk (CE), and Ko Dong-jin (IM), promoting Vice Chairman Kim Ki-nam to Chairman, and elevating President Han Jong-hee and President Jung Hyun-ho to Vice Chairmen.

On the 7th, Samsung Electronics announced its 2022 regular executive personnel changes involving a total of nine people, including the promotion of one Chairman, two Vice Chairmen, and three Presidents, as well as changes in the appointment duties of three individuals.

With this personnel change, Vice Chairman of the DS Division Kim Ki-nam was promoted to Chairman, leading the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology and taking charge of future technology development and nurturing successors. His successor as head of the DS Division is Kyung Kye-hyun, President of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, who previously served as Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Memory Business Division.

Han Jong-hee, President of the Visual Display Business Division in the Consumer Electronics (CE) Division, was promoted to Vice Chairman and appointed as the head of the Set Division, which integrates Home Appliances (CE) and Mobile (IM). President Jung Hyun-ho, who leads Samsung Electronics’ Business Support Task Force, was also promoted to Vice Chairman in this reshuffle.

Additionally, Choi Kyung-sik, Vice President and Head of North America, was promoted to President of the Set Division North America; Park Yong-in, Vice President and Head of Strategy Marketing at the System LSI Business Division in the DS Division, was promoted to President of the DS Division System LSI Business Division; and Kim Soo-mok, Vice President and Head of Litigation Team in the Legal Office, was promoted to President of the Set Division Legal Office.

Park Hak-gyu, who was Head of Management Support in the DS Division, moved to become President of Management Support in the Set Division, and Kang In-yeop, who was Head of the System LSI Business Division in the DS Division, was reassigned as President of the DS Division Americas.

In the business community, it was widely expected that the current three-person leadership would be maintained for the time being, considering Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s judicial risks and external uncertainties; however, this unexpected and bold reshuffle was carried out. This personnel change is interpreted as reflecting the strong will of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong.

Samsung Electronics stated that it realized a merit-based personnel system by promoting individuals who have significantly contributed to the company’s development, growth of key businesses, and strengthening of corporate competitiveness. Furthermore, through a generational change personnel reshuffle that appointed leaders to the Set Business and Semiconductor Business divisions to lead challenges and innovation for the future, the company explained that it has newly organized its structure to prepare a foundation capable of leading change amid intensifying global competition.