Samsung Electronics Considers Hiring Designers from 3M and Pepsico to Kickstart Design Innovation

Considering Appointment of DX Chief Design Officer
Pursuing Global Innovation in Design Management
Samsung Recruits Top Talent from Various Fields

Samsung Electronics is considering recruiting Mauro Porcini, a world-renowned industrial designer, as Chief Design Officer (CDO) and President of Design.

According to Samsung Electronics on the 27th, the company is reviewing the appointment of Porcini, former Chief Design Officer (CDO) of global corporation PepsiCo, as a president-level CDO for the Device Experience (DX) division.

Porcini led projects that organically integrated brand and product design at 3M and PepsiCo. In 2012, he was the only designer named among Fortune's "40 Under 40" leaders and was awarded the "Order of Merit for the Nation" for elevating the honor of Italian design worldwide.

Samsung has historically driven management innovation by recruiting world-class experts as leaders from various fields. In 2019, to strengthen smartphone design strategy, Samsung Electronics hired Steve MacManus, a former senior designer at Apple, as head of the wireless business design strategy team. He was responsible for hardware design of the iPhone and iPad at Apple and oversaw smartphone design strategy at Samsung Electronics.

Mauro Porcini, personal homepage capture

In the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, Samsung previously appointed David Eun, formerly of Google and AOL, as the inaugural president of Samsung NEXT in 2011. He led Samsung's technological innovation by establishing open innovation and venture investment strategies.

Additionally, Sebastian Seung, a Princeton University professor and neuroscience expert, was recruited to Samsung Research in 2016 and later promoted to president. He led Samsung's AI research by overseeing brain science-based AI development.

In 2013, Samsung hired Gregory Lee, formerly of the American healthcare company Johnson & Johnson, as Vice President and Head of North America. He was later promoted to President of the U.S. Mobile Division, leading Samsung's expansion in the U.S. market and contributing to increased brand recognition.

Furthermore, in 2015, Samsung Electronics recruited Lee Dontae, former co-CEO of the British design firm Tangerine, as President of the Global Design Center. Currently, Jim Elliott, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Samsung Electronics’ U.S. Semiconductor Division, has a background at major U.S. tech companies Qualcomm and Micron. Eric Johnson, Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ System LSI Division, also comes from the American semiconductor company Texas Instruments.