Kyung Kye-hyun, Who Announced a 'Super-Gap Change,' Leads Samsung Semiconductor's Leap Forward

Recognized for Management Skills at Samsung Electro-Mechanics as a Semiconductor Design Expert
Leading 'Communication Leadership and Organizational Culture Improvement' to Accelerate Innovation Across the Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hye-young] Kyung Kyung-hyun, the newly appointed CEO (head of the DS division) who opened Samsung Electronics' 'two-top system,' is regarded as the right person to lay the foundation for Samsung Electronics' future growth, possessing both expertise in the semiconductor field and management capabilities.

CEO Kyung majored in Control and Instrumentation Engineering at Seoul National University and earned his master's and doctorate degrees before joining Samsung Electronics in 1988. He then led Samsung Electronics' memory semiconductor development, serving as head of the Flash Design Team, Flash Development Office, and Solution Development Office.

Having worked at Samsung Electronics for over 30 years, Kyung was appointed CEO of Samsung Electro-Mechanics in January 2020. Shortly after his appointment, he held a management briefing for employees, declaring his intention to grow the company both quantitatively and qualitatively. It is reported that Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong showed great interest and supported Kyung's business plans.

As Kyung predicted, Samsung Electro-Mechanics succeeded in enhancing its competitiveness in automotive multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) technology, identified as a new growth engine, and achieved record-breaking performance. Samsung Electro-Mechanics posted sales of 2.6887 trillion KRW and operating profit of 457.8 billion KRW in the third quarter of this year, marking significant increases of 21% and 49% respectively compared to the same period last year. Kyung demonstrated his capabilities as a semiconductor expert through these outstanding management results.

He also exhibited excellent organizational management skills, earning praise for his 'communicative leadership.'

During his tenure as CEO of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Kyung held 'Thursday Talk' sessions every Thursday, where executives including the CEO freely engaged in conversations, attempting communication that embraced even the MZ generation. He received positive reviews for efforts to strengthen communication not only with employees but also with shareholders, such as making surprise appearances at metaverse-based award ceremonies and directly briefing shareholders on mid- to long-term visions at shareholder meetings.

Kyung boldly pursued new initiatives to accelerate digital transformation and improve organizational culture across all work areas. To improve Samsung Electro-Mechanics' organizational culture, he eliminated rank indicators and unified titles to 'Pro,' introduced formal speech within the company, and implemented peer evaluation systems. His bold moves are considered to have significantly influenced the spread of innovation throughout the group, as some of these changes were reflected in Samsung's recently announced personnel system reform plan.

Kyung's appointment as head of the DS division, succeeding Kim Ki-nam, chairman of Samsung Electronics' Comprehensive Technology Institute, is interpreted as recognition of his expertise and management abilities. Alongside newly appointed Vice Chairman and head of the Set division Han Jong-hee, Kyung is expected to take on a major role as one of the group's 'two-tops' and lead the semiconductor business. It is anticipated that Kyung will focus all his capabilities on creating a 'super-gap' to achieve the world's number one position in DRAM and NAND flash memory semiconductors and realize Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's declared 'System Semiconductor Vision 2030.'

Samsung Electronics stated regarding Kyung's appointment, "As head of the DS division, he is expected to demonstrate technological leadership in the semiconductor business and drive innovation across the entire components business."