Samsung Electronics Co-CEO Han Jong-hee died of cardiac arrest on Tuesday, the company confirmed. He was 63 at the time of his death.
Han passed away at a hospital while receiving treatment, according to a company spokesperson. Samsung has not yet announced his successor.
Han Jong-hee had been leading Samsung’s consumer electronics and mobile devices division. His counterpart, Jun Young-hyun, oversees the chip business at South Korea’s largest company.
Samsung Electronics Co-CEO Han Jong-hee: A Veteran Leader
Han spent over three decades at Samsung. He began his career in the company’s displays division and rose through the ranks. In 2021, he was appointed as co-CEO. Under his leadership, Samsung cemented its position as the global leader in televisions, surpassing rivals like Sony.
Han’s responsibilities stretched across home appliances and smartphones, where Samsung competed head-to-head with Apple.
Recently, he spearheaded the company’s push to integrate artificial intelligence into its Galaxy devices. AI chips have been embedded in refrigerators, washing machines, and even vacuum cleaners under his watch.
Setback for Samsung
Han’s death comes at a pivotal time for the company. Samsung is currently trying to catch up with competitors like SK Hynix in the race for AI memory chips. At the same time, demand for consumer electronics remains weak.
Just last week, Han addressed shareholders at Samsung’s annual meeting. He acknowledged the challenges ahead and warned that 2025 would be a difficult year. However, he also reassured investors that the company was actively pursuing mergers and acquisitions to fuel future growth.
Samsung Electronics Co-CEO on Challenges faced by Company
On March 19, speaking at the shareholder gathering, Han candidly admitted the company’s shortcomings. “First and foremost, I sincerely apologise for the recent stock performance not meeting your expectations,” he said, according to a Reuters report.
He pointed to Samsung’s slow response to the rapidly evolving AI semiconductor market as a key reason for poor stock performance in 2024.
Samsung’s rivals have made significant strides in advanced memory chips and contract manufacturing for AI applications. In contrast, Samsung has faced sluggish earnings and falling share prices.
Han shared leadership duties with Jun Young-hyun, who heads the company’s critical semiconductor business. With Han’s sudden passing, Samsung now faces the challenge of filling a key leadership position.
The company’s strategy for navigating economic uncertainties and the competitive AI chip market remains in focus. As Samsung prepares for a tough year ahead, the absence of one of its top leaders adds further uncertainty.
