Samsung Electronics co-CEO, Han Jong-Hee dies at 63

Samsung Electronics co-CEO Han Jong-Hee died on Tuesday at the age of 63 due to cardiac arrest.

The news was confirmed by a spokesperson for the South Korean tech company.

Han, born in 1962, had led Samsung’s consumer electronics and mobile devices divisions since 2022. That same year, he was appointed as the company’s vice chairman and co-CEO. His counterpart, Jun Young-Hyun, oversees the semiconductor business.

In an internal message obtained by CNN, Samsung honored Han’s contributions, noting that he devoted over 37 years to the company and played a key role in establishing its TV business as a global leader.

As the head of Samsung’s electronics and appliances division, he also helped steer the company through a “challenging business environment.”

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“Our deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the company stated.

Samsung has not yet announced who will succeed Han, according to the spokesperson.

In recent years, the company has faced considerable challenges, particularly in the semiconductor industry, where it lags behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) in both advanced chip production and attracting major clients.

Just last week, Han chaired Samsung’s annual investor meeting, where he apologized for the company’s stock performance and cautioned that 2025 could be difficult due to uncertainty surrounding global economic policies, according to Reuters.

He also highlighted plans for “meaningful” mergers and acquisitions to drive growth.

There are some difficulties in doing semiconductor M&As due to regulatory issues and various national interests, but we’re determined to produce some tangible results this year,” Han stated.

He joined Samsung in 1988 after earning a degree in electrical engineering from Inha University. Before leading the company’s electronics and devices division, he managed the display operations.

According to a company biography published last week, Han played a “central” role in the launch of Samsung’s LED TVs.

His innovations contributed to the company’s ability to “continually demonstrate technology leadership.”

(CNN)