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Samsung reshuffle makes group younger
ANN - Sunday, December 5
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Seoul (The Korea Herald/ANN) - Samsung has unveiled a new management lineup that effectively moves the children of group owner Lee Kun-hee and other relatively young executives to top posts, a move many interpreted as a reflection of Lee's wishes to create a young and more upbeat working environment.
"The company needs to get younger," Lee had said several times just ahead of Friday's reshuffling. He further warned that, over the next 10 years, Samsung will need to face challenges unlike those of the past decade.
Echoing his concerns, Samsung also has officially launched the "Future Strategy Department" , a team of top-tier executives who will work to carve out new business opportunities and boost the efficiency of the sprawling, multi-billion corporation.
Before his promotion to president, Lee's only son and heir Lee Jae-yong was previously vice president. The 42-year-old had held the post after a quick succession of promotions since he first joined his father's firm in 1991.
Lee Boo-jin, the eldest daughter of Lee Kun-hee, was promoted to the helm of Hotel Shilla and Samsung Everland, the group's amusement park.
Samsung's reshuffle was wide-reaching and included the promotion of Samsung Electronics president Choi Gee-sung to CEO and vice chairman.
The decision reflected Samsung's drive for a bigger share of the smart devices' market, industry sources said, as Choi is widely viewed as the source of Samsung's success in the smartphone and tablet PC market.
The appointments - especially those regarding his children - were widely expected as the chairman had said he hopes to build a "younger" Samsung.
He also said the company, despite having enjoyed a hugely successful year, would have to swiftly transform to take on future challenges.
The Samsung heir had echoed these sentiments, saying his father believed changes were necessary to prevent complacency.
The elder Lee also had voiced his concerns about seeking out new business ventures.
Hence, the top priority the Future and Strategy Department would be eying and developing future growth strategies, Samsung officials said.
"It's all about looking for new businesses to generate growth and enhancing synergy between the affiliates," said one Samsung official who declined to be identified.
The promotions and the new management unit at the nation's leading conglomerate aroused criticism as well as anticipation.
"We all knew that the promotions for Lee Kun-hee's children were coming, but the family must understand that there is much on the younger generation's plate since they must prove they are worth their posts," said Kim Sang-jo, head of the Solidarity for Economic Reform.
Kim said that Lee Jae-yong, in particular, must acquiesce to litmus tests to show he is a well-deserving heir because, so far, he has faced no real competition.
"Nor has he ever shown his worth since he has yet to make his name as a skilled manager," Kim said.
The children of the owner family also rarely face consequences for failure, either, he said, making it difficult for the public to trust the conglomerates when they try to bequeath their companies to their offspring.
The role of the Future Strategy Unit also must be challenged and rightly proved, Kim said.
The department was a reprise of a similar unit that was disbanded in 2008 in the wake of a scandal involving tax evasion and alleged attempts to illegally hand down Samsung to Lee Jae-yong.
Parts of the charges were lifted, but Lee Kun-hee was sentenced for illegal bond transactions. After retiring in 2008, Lee made a comeback as Samsung Electronics chairman in March following a special presidential pardon.
The original unit was widely viewed as a vehicle through which Samsung gathered critical, confidential information to keep its affiliates in line. The unit was also considered a coffer for managing slush funds.
"As long as Samsung makes it clear that the new unit will be strictly about business and coordination, there would be no reason to object," said Junn Sung-chull, head of the Institute of Global Management.
He added that mammoth industrial groups inevitably needed such an organization to integrate business policies and bolster synergy.
"The top managers also need such a communication channel to coordinate with the affiliates," Junn said.
Kim Soon-taek, a Samsung Electronics vice chairman and head of the company's new business development unit was recently appointed to head the Future Strategy unit that will be composed of six separate teams.
The unit will support the Future Strategy Commission, also newly created to keep tabs on investment plans, brand management and personnel.
Kim was named head of this commission as well.
Together, these two units will work closely with Choi of Samsung Electronics to jointly devise and execute business strategies and policies with Lee Kun-hee and his son, industry watchers said.
COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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