Samsung Electronics’ executives become younger, with focus on chip

Upper line : Kim Woo-june, Nam Seok-woo, Park Seung-hee. Lower line : Baek Su-hyeon, Greg Yang , Lee Young-hee [image source : Samsung Electronics]

Samsung Electronics has added more younger-generation employees and technology experts to executive positions in this year’s annual reshuffle with more focus on semiconductor business as the South Korean tech giant is seeking innovation and new growth engines to fend off growing business uncertainties.

Samsung Electronics on Tuesday announced it promoted 187 employees to executive positions, bringing in those in their 30s and 40s to management. It also added nine female executives and two foreign national managers to promote diversity in the company.

With today’s promotions, Samsung Electronics has completed its annual reshuffle that focuses more on innovation in new growth engines and enhancement of its semiconductor prowess amid intensifying competition.

A day earlier, the company promoted Nam Seok-woo as president and chief safety officer of Global Manufacturing & Infra Technology at the Device Solutions (DS) Division, which covers semiconductors including memory chips, processors and image sensors. Nam, an expert in chip processing technology, will oversee chip manufacturing and factory operations.

Song Jai-hyuk, chief technology officer and head of Semiconductor R&D Center in DS division, was moved up to president. He will continue to lead the R&D center and serve as CTO of the semiconductor business unit.

In the Device eXperience (DX) division, Kim Woo-june was appointed as president and head of the Networks Business, which deals with telecommunications network equipment. Kim was previously executive vice president of the Networks Business marketing strategy team.

Lee Young-hee, a marketing expert, was named the president and global marketing team head of the DX division, becoming the first female president of Samsung Electronics.

In addition, Baek Su-hyeon became president of the Corporate Communications Team after heading the team as executive vice president.

Park Seung-hee, formerly executive vice president at Samsung C&T, will head corporate relations at Samsung Electronics as president.

Greg Yang was promoted as president of Samsung China Corporate Office from vice president position.

Cheun Kyung-whoon, president of the Networks Business in DX division, was appointed as the division‘s chief technology officer and the president of Samsung Research.

Sebastian Seung was appointed as DX division’s head of global R&D cooperation at Samsung Research.