Hong Kong: Samsung Electronics co-CEO Han Jong-Hee has died from cardiac arrest at 63, the company confirmed on Tuesday.
Han had been leading Samsung’s consumer electronics and mobile businesses since 2022 after being named vice chairman and CEO.
His passing comes shortly after Jun Young-Hyun was appointed co-CEO of the company last week.
Samsung has faced difficulties in recent years, especially in its semiconductor business, where it lags behind TSMC.
The company also struggles in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chip market, losing ground to rival SK Hynix.
Challenges at Samsung
Samsung’s stock price has declined due to its weaker position in the semiconductor industry.
HBM chips, crucial for GPUs made by Nvidia, have been a weak spot for Samsung’s chip division.
At last week’s investor meeting, Han apologized for Samsung’s stock performance and warned of a tough 2025.
He noted uncertainties in global economic policies and the company’s need for major acquisitions to drive growth.
Han said Samsung was determined to complete significant mergers and acquisitions despite regulatory challenges.
Career and Legacy
Han joined Samsung in 1988 after earning an electrical engineering degree from Inha University.
He previously led Samsung’s display division before overseeing the electronics and devices segment.
Under his leadership, Samsung pioneered LED TVs, strengthening its position as a technology leader.
His innovations helped Samsung maintain a competitive edge in the global market.
Samsung acknowledged Han’s contributions in a company biography published last week.
