Samsung’s co-CEO, Han Jong-hee, passed away. He was 63. Han had a heart attack while on leave from the hospital.
Han was in charge of the company’s consumer electronics and mobile devices. He was appointed co-CEO in 2022. Another co-CEO, Jun Young-hyun, oversees the chip business.
This happened at a tough time for Samsung. The company faces intense competition from Chinese firms and lost its top spot in the smartphone market to Apple.
In a meeting with investors, Han apologized for the company’s stock performance. He warned that 2025 will be a challenging year due to economic uncertainty. Han said Samsung will look for mergers and acquisitions that “create value” to support growth.
Background
Han joined Samsung in 1988. He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from Inha University. Before becoming co-CEO, Han led the electronics and device solutions division. He was in charge of display operations.
Han played a key role in launching Samsung’s LED TVs. This was one of the innovations that helped the company show its technological leadership, according to Samsung’s biography released last week.
What’s Next
A Samsung spokesperson said there is no decision yet on who will replace Han. The company’s stock price remained steady in morning trading.
