Samsung Electronics announced the promotion of 137 executives below the vice president level on Nov. 29, marking its smallest reshuffle in seven years.
The appointments included 35 vice presidents, 92 directors, and 10 “masters,” a title for technical specialists. This represents a slight drop from last year’s 143 promotions, which included 51 vice presidents and 77 directors. It is the first time since May 2017 that the total number of promotions fell below 140.
The average age of this year’s newly appointed executives is 47.6, slightly older than last year’s 47.3. The youngest appointee, Ha Ji-hoon, a director in the Device eXperience (DX) division, played a key role in developing vRAN technology and next-generation communication platforms.
Samsung continued its practice of promoting younger talent, including directors in their 30s and vice presidents in their 40s. Among the newly appointed vice presidents are Lee Gui-ho, 49, head of the Advertising Services Group in the DX division’s Visual Display business; Kim Ki-hwan, 49, leader of the Immersive Software Development Group in the Mobile eXperience (MX) division; and Kim Yeon-jeong, 49, head of procurement for the MX division’s SEV Corporation. The Device Solutions (DS) division saw key promotions, including Lim Seong-su, 46, leader of the DRAM TD1 Team, and Kwon Oh-kyum, 47, head of the Eight-Inch Manufacturing Technology Team.
Samsung highlighted that the reshuffle reflects contributions to critical projects across major business areas. In the DX division, new vice presidents include Noh Kyeong-rae, 48, head of the Sales Strategy Group for the Visual Display business; Hong Joo-sun, 53, head of the Circuit Development Group for Digital Appliances; and Boo Min-hyuk, 51, head of the Advanced Design Group for the MX division.
In the DS division, newly promoted executives include Bae Seung-jun, 48, leader of the DRAM Design 3 Group in the Memory Business, and Yoo Sang-min, 51, head of the RF Development Team in the System LSI business. Appointments also focused on software development and emerging technologies, such as Park Jeong-ho, deputy managing director of the Next-Generation Communication Research Center, and Kim Yong-seong, head of the Device Research Center at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology.
As part of its diversity efforts, Samsung elevated several women and foreign executives. Seo Jeong-a, head of the Digital Commerce Team in the MX division, was promoted to vice president, while Lee Ji-youn, head of the A&E Sales 2 Group, and Seok Ji-won, a professional in the Communication Group, became directors. Among foreign appointees, Sitthichoke, a 50-year-old Thai national based in the Southeast Asia Office, was promoted to director.
