Samsung's Performance-Based Promotions... Numerous 30s Executive Directors and 40s Vice Presidents (Comprehensive)

Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display Executive Personnel Changes

[Asia Economy Reporters Sunmi Park and Chaeseok Moon] Samsung Electronics has boldly promoted individuals who have demonstrated clear achievements and growth potential, regardless of their years of service or age. The list of promoted executives includes numerous 30-something Senior Directors and 40-something Vice Presidents. The plan is to strengthen future readiness by focusing promotions on performance and growth potential.

On the 6th, Samsung Electronics promoted a total of 187 people: 59 Vice Presidents, 107 Senior Directors, 2 Fellows, and 19 Masters. The number of executive promotions decreased by 11 compared to a year ago, when 198 were promoted (68 Vice Presidents, 113 Senior Directors, 1 Fellow, 16 Masters). This personnel decision strictly applied Samsung’s “performance-based principle.” In an uncertain business environment caused by the global economic downturn, it was judged that boldly selecting individuals who deliver results and have growth potential, regardless of rank, age, or years of service, is crucial to proactively prepare and aggressively seek new business opportunities.

As a result, many young leaders emerged, including three Senior Directors in their 30s and seventeen Vice Presidents in their 40s. The average age of newly appointed Senior Directors this year is 46.9, lower than last year’s average of 47. Vice President Moon Seong-hoon, head of the Strategic Product Development Group 1 in the MX Division of the DX Division, who has led hardware development for flagship products such as the Galaxy S series and foldable phones, and Vice President Lee Jeong-won, head of the Modem Development Team in the S.LSI Division of the DS (Semiconductor) Division, who contributed to improving 5G modem performance and product competitiveness, are representative Vice Presidents in their 40s at ages 48 and 45, respectively. Despite their relatively short tenure, Senior Director Bae Beom-hee of the H/W Technology Group at the Production Technology Research Institute in the DX Division and Senior Director Lee Byung-il of the Flash PA1 Team in the Memory Division of the DS Division were promoted at ages 37 and 39, respectively, recognizing their technological competitiveness and achievements.

Samsung continues to promote women and foreigners to build an innovative organizational culture based on diversity and inclusion and to strengthen competitiveness as a sustainable company. This year, 11 female and foreign executives were promoted. Although this is fewer than last year’s 17, the number has remained in double digits for several years.

In the DX Division, Heeyoung Ahn, head of the Service PM Group in the VD Division, was promoted to Senior Director. She is recognized as a key figure who led the planning and commercialization of the app store and platform based on Smart TVs. Other promoted executives include Hanglara Han, head of the Purchasing Group 3 in the VD Division, who took the lead in securing semiconductor materials in advance, and Juwon Ahn, Senior Director of the Strategic Group in the Planning Team of the Management Support Office, a “strategist” who pioneered new markets such as AR glasses and mobile cloud gaming.

Another feature of this personnel move is the strategic placement of outstanding foreign talents from the Global Strategy Office to the field to accelerate global business expansion. Newly appointed executives include Jermaine Klause, Senior Director of SEAVO in the VD Division of the DX Division, and Daniel Araujo, Senior Director of the Business Support Task Force (T/F).

Meanwhile, Samsung Display also conducted performance-based promotions for 27 people, producing Vice Presidents in their 40s and Senior Directors in their 30s. This is the first time a Senior Director in their 30s has emerged at Samsung Display. Representative young leaders who have gone through Samsung’s “fast track” include Vice President Cho Seong-ho, head of the A Development Team in the Small and Medium Display Division; Vice President Son Dong-il, head of the YE Team in the Large Display Division; and Senior Director Lee Jeong-su of the B/P Development Group in the Small and Medium Display Division. The list of promoted executives at Samsung Electro-Mechanics also included one Vice President in their 40s and one Senior Director in their 30s. Additionally, a new female executive (Senior Director) was appointed.