On-site management for the 3rd week… Affiliate Tour
Discussion on digital twin, cloud, etc.
Eat at the cafeteria and take a selfie with the staff
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited Samsung SDS headquarters on the 30th to take care of current information technology (IT) service business issues. This is Lee’s first visit to Samsung SDS. Analysts say that the role of Samsung SDS, which is mainly in charge of IT and logistics services for Samsung affiliates, has become so important.
Vice Chairman Lee met with Samsung SDS President Hwang Seong-woo on the same day to discuss mid- to long-term business strategies. President Hwang reported on digital twin and metaverse market trends, global IT service status, and software talent recruitment status. “We will continue to invest and strive to become a company with the highest level of cloud technology,” said Hwang.
Vice Chairman Lee also met with 10 employees who work and raise children at the same time and listened to various stories on the topic of ‘Work and Family Life Balance of Working Moms’, and then encouraged working moms.
The growth of Samsung SDS also affects Samsung Electronics. Samsung Electronics is the largest shareholder with a 22.58% stake in Samsung SDS. Vice Chairman Lee also owns 7,118,713 shares (9.02%) of Samsung SDS. Some are raising the possibility that Vice Chairman Lee may sell part of his stake in Samsung SDS to pay inheritance tax in the future.
Vice Chairman Lee also met with Koh Jung-seok, president of Samsung C&T’s trading division, on the same day and discussed business prospects for this year and the status of new business preparations. It is evaluated that Samsung C&T’s trading division has reached the stabilization stage of its business diversification strategy.
Vice Chairman Lee has been conducting ‘on-site management’ by visiting the business sites of major affiliates for three weeks from the 19th. It is the fourth following Samsung Electronics’ Giheung and Hwaseong campuses, Samsung Engineering, and Samsung Electronics’ Suwon plant. Vice Chairman Lee eats lunch at the cafeteria whenever he visits the site. There is also talk of ‘canteen communication’. Analysts say that they are building intimacy and bonding by tasting the same food in the same place as the employees.
Vice-Chairman Lee also ate ‘Calmadot Hwangtae Gomtang’ at the Samsung SDS cafeteria on the same day. From time to time, he even took selfies of the employees. A Samsung official said, “Vice Chairman Lee has been concentrating on building a flexible organizational culture right following the lottery.” Some observers predict that Samsung will come up with a plan to reorganize its organizational culture.
Reporter Jung Ji-eun jeong@hankyung.com
