Samsung’s Counteroffensive
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on December 18 that Samsung has hired Apple’s top designer.
According to the WSJ, Samsung hired Tim Gudgel, who has been a key designer for Apple Stores, as its retail business division’s vice president and general manager.
Insiders are looking close as to how this will impact Samsung’s retail strategy. Samsung has a large retail chain in Korea and several overseas, but its network in the US has been limited to a partnership with Best Buy.
Tim Gudgel worked as a director at Apple since 2008, and his resume includes working as a designer for Gehry Partners, founded by architect Frank Gehry, where he designed the round glass rooftop of Apple’s Upper West Side store.
The WSJ commented, “It may have lost the latest court decision, but Samsung Electronics scored a personnel victory over Apple this month by hiring away a senior store designer.”