Replaced by Younger Generation
Samsung Electronics appointed president Kim Ki-nam as head of the Device Solution (DS) Business Division in charge of the semiconductor business, president Kim Hyun-seok of the Visual Display (VD) Business Division as head of the Consumer Electronics (CE) Business Division and president Ko Dong-jin of the Wireless Business Division as head of the IT and Mobile (IM) Business Division, respectively, on October 31.
The personnel reshuffle was made based on a judgment that the appointment of the new heads should not be delayed any longer as presidents Yoon Boo-keun and Shin Jong-kyun expressed their intentions to step down following vice chairman Kwon Oh-hyun.
President Kim Ki-nam is a leading authority on semiconductors and an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) fellow. Kim had served as director of the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, head of the Memory Business, head of the System LSI Business, president of Samsung Display, president of the Semiconductor Business in the DS Business Division since joining Samsung Electronics in 1981.
President Kim Hyun-seok is one of the best experts in display products such as TVs. Kim Hyun-seok has played a leading role in making Samsung Electronics rank first in the global TV market for 11 consecutive years by leading innovations based on differentiated technologies. President Ko Dong-jin has been taking the initiative in making the mobile business world-class while creating a Galaxy myth with differentiated products and services as leader of the Development Team at the Wireless Business Division.
President Lee Sang-hoon who had served as chief financial officer (CFO) since 2012 resigned along with the two presidents. Even though Lee Sang-hoon resigned from management, he was recommended as chairman of the board of directors by outside directors. Lee Sang-hoon along with Kim Ki-nam, Kim Hyun-seok, and Ko Dong-jin who will be in charge of their business divisions are scheduled to be appointed as members of the board of directors through a general meeting of shareholders in March of next year.