Lee Meets Xiaomi CEO During Visit to China
Discusses Strengthening Semiconductor Cooperation
Jeon, Approaching First Year as Semiconductor Chief,
Enhances Communication with Industry Veterans
Just a week after the high-intensity reform message of 'Sajuksaeng (死卽生·If you are determined to die, you can live)' was issued, Samsung Electronics' management has begun full-scale efforts to restore semiconductor competitiveness. While Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong has started managing global networks, including meeting with Lei Jun, Chairman of Xiaomi, Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun, head of the Device Solutions (DS) division, is increasing contact with semiconductor industry veterans to drive the revival of memory chips.
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong (left) is taking a commemorative photo with Xiaomi Chairman Lei Jun at Xiaomi's electric vehicle factory on the 22nd. Photo by Xiaomi Weibo, China Yonhap News Agency
According to the semiconductor industry on the 24th, Vice Chairman Jeon is strengthening communication with senior colleagues who led Samsung's semiconductor heyday. Most of the communication is done by phone. While some calls are from seniors curious about internal company affairs, it is said that recently Vice Chairman Jeon has been the one initiating contact more often. He reportedly seeks advice from seniors on ways to restore memory competitiveness and also shares reflections on areas where he himself has fallen short. This is interpreted as an intention to avoid the mistake of relying solely on his own experience and abilities and to gather as many opinions as possible.
This approach is becoming more prominent as the one-year anniversary of his appointment as 'semiconductor chief' in May approaches. Whether he has achieved the expected results so far could serve as a gauge for the future of Samsung Memory, over which Vice Chairman Jeon holds full authority. In the regular executive reshuffle last November, he concurrently took on the role of head of the Memory Business Division, effectively gaining 'full authority' over the company's memory business. In particular, the biggest focus is whether the HBM3E 12-stack product can pass NVIDIA's quality test by May, marking his first year in office.
An industry insider said, "Leading the memory business alone is a significant burden for anyone," adding, "However, since Vice Chairman Jeon's appointment, the HBM development plan has been firmly organized, and the internal organization is gradually stabilizing, which is widely recognized both inside and outside the company." A former senior Samsung executive emphasized, "It is important to discover and utilize talented individuals," and added, "Vice Chairman Jeon himself needs to find and nurture people who understand memory as well as he does to enhance the company's competitiveness."
Chairman Lee is also actively launching overseas management efforts for Samsung's revival. On the 22nd, he visited Xiaomi's electric vehicle factory in Beijing with Cristiano Amon, Chairman of Qualcomm, and met with Chairman Lei. Xiaomi is one of Samsung's major customers, with steadily increasing demand for high-performance semiconductors used in smartphones and electric vehicles. There is analysis that Samsung and Qualcomm have room to strengthen semiconductor cooperation with Xiaomi.
The visit to Xiaomi was prompted by attendance at the 'China Development Forum' held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Chairman Lee is expected to stay in China for another two to three days, expanding contacts with senior government officials and business leaders. There is also speculation about possible meetings with high-ranking officials close to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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