Samsung Loses Co-CEO Han Jong-hee to Heart Attack

Consumer electronics and semiconductor giant Samsung will transition leadership after the death of its co-CEO Han Jong-hee, who died after being treated for a heart attack. 

A week before his death, Samsung appointed a new co-CEO, Jun Young-hyun, who will take over as the company’s leader following Han’s death, according to the company. Han joined Samsung in 1988 during a period of major transition. Decades later, he would take over the consumer division in 2021 after a successful run at the head of the company’s display division.

Samsung has been dominant in semiconductors and smartphones, competing with other tech powerhouses such as Apple, Nvidia and Google. 

Samsung said a funeral will be held for Han on Thursday. He is survived by his wife and three children.

What this means for Samsung

Although a co-CEO was recently named, it’s likely Samsung will look for someone to step into Han’s role, which included overseeing Samsung’s mobile, TV, home appliances, digital appliances and device experience businesses.

“Given Han’s unique expertise and leadership, finding a replacement may take time,” said Dr. Jae Young Bang, a PhD. faculty member at USC Computer Science and director of software development at Quandary Peak Research. “Whether Samsung will revert to a dual-leadership system remains uncertain, but it appears unlikely that the company will abruptly shift its overall strategy due to his passing.”

Bang said that in the interim, Samsung might place greater emphasis on core technologies including semiconductors and long-term research into materials, equipment and areas such as AI. The company might experience delays with Home AI, an AI technology meant to integrate Samsung’s products together that Han presented at CES in January.  

But given Samsung’s huge organizational structure, Bang believes the impact could be minimal, especially for consumers. 

“Daily operations and customer experiences will likely remain largely unaffected, at least in the near term,” he said.