Choosing Stability over Change

Samsung Electronics has been reorganized from the current two-chairman and three-vice-chairman system to a two-chairman and four-vice-chairman one.

Samsung Electronics has implemented a regular reshuffle of executives for 2019. The Korean tech giant chose stability over change in preparation for uncertainties both inside and outside the company.

The announced on Dec. 6 the promotion of Kim Ki-nam, president and head of the Device Solution (DS) Business Division, to vice chairman and Roh Tae-Moon, vice president of the IT and Mobile (IM) Business Division, to president in a regular reshuffle of top executives for 2019.

Three CEOs will keep their posts. Kim Ki-nam will remain as head of the semiconductor and display business while Ko Dong-jin and Kim Hyun-seok will continue to head the IM Business Division for smartphones and the Consumer Electronics (CE) Business Division for TVs and home appliances, respectively. Only two persons were included in the list of the regular personnel transfers.

Some experts say that the results reflected vice chairman Lee Jae-yong's intention to choose stability over reform as internal and external uncertainties was growing. In a shakeup at the end of last year, he replaced all CEOs.

Kim Ki-nam is a top semiconductor specialist who previously served as director of the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, head of the memory business and chief of the system LSI business. Since appointed as head of the DS Business Division, Kim has led Samsung Electronics to the top of the global semiconductor market. Under his leadership, the company has been renewing sales records in the semiconductor business.

With Kim’s promotion to vice chairman, Samsung Electronics has been reorganized from the current two-chairman and three-vice-chairman system to a two-chairman and four-vice-chairman one.

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