Samsung Electronics has announced the appointment of Vice Chairman Young Hyun Jun as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Jun will continue in his current role as Head of the Device Solutions (DS) Division and will also take charge of the Memory Business and the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, as per an official statement by Samsung.

Dr Young Hyun Jun holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Hanyang University, and a Master in Science and PhD degree from Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST). He is the Chairman of the Business Executive Council of South Korea's National Academy of Engineering and is a member of the National High-tech Strategic Industries Committee.

According to Samsung, Jun has been instrumental in advancing Samsung's memory semiconductor and battery businesses to global leadership. As Head of Memory Business (2014–2017), he launched the important DRAM and V-NAND products, which helped solidify Samsung's market dominance at the time. During his tenure as CEO and Vice Chairman of Samsung SDI (2017–2023), he drove record growth, expanded into electric vehicle and energy storage markets, and localised battery materials.

Samsung's latest leadership changes also include Jinman Han, previously Executive Vice President and President of Device Solutions America, who has been promoted to President and will now head the Foundry Business. The Foundry division will also see the addition of a newly created Chief Technology Officer (CTO) role, which will be filled by Seok Woo Nam, an expert in semiconductor manufacturing and memory technology.

Other notable appointments include JH Han, Vice Chairman and Head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division, who will now lead a new company-wide committee focused on improving product quality. Additionally, Hansung Ko, CEO of Samsung Bioepis, will now lead the Future Business Division, signalling Samsung's push into biotechnology and other emerging sectors.

As for other leadership changes, Samsung also announced that the previous Executive Vice President of Business Support TF, Yong Kwan Kim, has been named President of Management Strategy for the DS Division. Wonjin Lee, previously executive advisor for Samsung Electronics, will now serve as President and Head of the Global Marketing Office. Meanwhile, Hark Kyu Park, previously Samsung's Chief Financial Officer, will transition to the Business Support Task Force, a strategic unit that oversees company operations.

Last month, Samsung acknowledged a 40% quarter-on-quarter profit decline in its semiconductor division and cited delays in its AI chip business with a key customer, according to a report by Reuters.

Analysts suggest the latest leadership changes reflect confidence in Young Hyun Jun's approach to revitalising the company's competitiveness in the memory chip market.  Jun, a seasoned leader in the memory business, is tasked with driving innovation in semiconductors while spearheading Samsung's long-term research efforts.