Samsung to Announce Executive Personnel Changes as Early as the 2nd... Kim Ki-nam, Kim Hyun-suk, and Ko Dong-jin Expected to Retain Positions

Samsung Display's Next President Likely to Be Choi Juseon, Head of Large Display Division and QD Commercialization Team; Major Executive Generation Change Possible Below Vice President Level

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Executive personnel changes, including the president-level executives of Samsung Group such as Samsung Electronics, are expected to be implemented as early as the 2nd.

There had been speculation that the personnel changes would be delayed due to prolonged judicial risks stemming from Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's retrial related to the state affairs manipulation case. However, to efficiently respond to various risks such as global uncertainties and the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), it was decided to proceed with the personnel changes as scheduled.

According to Samsung Electronics and others, major Samsung affiliates are expected to announce president-level and executive personnel changes starting as early as the 2nd.

On the 2nd, personnel changes for all president-level executives across Samsung affiliates will be announced, followed by executive personnel changes in the electronics affiliates after the 3rd, and then personnel changes in independent affiliates such as Samsung C&T Corporation next week.

In this personnel reshuffle, it has been reported that the reappointment of three division heads at Samsung Electronics has been decided: Kim Ki-nam, Vice Chairman and head of the Device Solutions (DS) division; Kim Hyun-suk, President of the Consumer Electronics (CE) division; and Ko Dong-jin, President of the IT & Mobile (IM) division.

However, some vice presidents in the semiconductor Memory Business Division led by President Jin Gyo-young, as well as in the Foundry and System LSI divisions, and parts of the home appliances and network divisions, are expected to be replaced.

It has also been reported that Lee Dong-hoon, President and CEO of Samsung Display who has completed a three-year term, will retire. The successor is rumored to be President Choi Joo-sun, head of the Large Business Division. Vice President Choi previously served as head of Samsung Electronics DS division's Americas operations before moving in January this year to Samsung Display as head of the Large Display Business Division and leader of the QD commercialization team.

Excluding the president-level executives, the business community expects a large-scale generational change in the executive personnel.

Some speculate that following the passing of Chairman Lee Kun-hee, leaving the Samsung chairman position vacant, Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's appointment as chairman is also being discussed. However, the prevailing view in the business community is that the chairman promotion will be excluded from this personnel reshuffle and will be announced separately.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.