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| From left are Wei Gu-yeon, a fellow at Samsung Research, and Jang Woo-seung and Kang Sung-chul, senior vice presidents of Samsung Electronics, who are newly recruited professionals in AI, big data and robots. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics |
By Baek Byung-yeul
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| William Kim, executive vice president of Samsung Electronics |
The firm also appointed William Kim, former CEO of British fashion retailer AllSaints, as executive vice president for its IT and mobile communication division to bolster overseas marketing and sales and Min Seung-jae, former chief designer at Volkswagen Group of America, as senior vice president.
To increase its capabilities in the AI sector, Samsung hired Harvard University professor Wei Gu-yeon as a "fellow" of the firm's AI research center Samsung Research.
"Samsung has given the fellow position, which is the highest post of the firm's research sector, to the world's best expert in the field," the firm said. At Samsung Research, Wei will work on developing next-generation processors that are based on neural processing units, the firm added.
Working as a professor of engineering and computer science of Harvard University since 2002, Wei has been recognized as one of the world's renowned gurus in the low-power and high-performance AI processor sector.
He gained attention for developing brain parts of flying bee-size robot RoboBee in 2013. As a member of the school's research robotics team, Wei developed sensors, actuators and processors for the robot with a 3-centimeter wingspan.
For an expert to spearhead the firm's big data strategy, Samsung said Jang Woo-seung, former senior scientist at Amazon, has joined the firm as senior vice president of the IT and mobile communications division.
Also, to beef up the firm's robotics technologies, Samsung appointed Kang Sung-chul, former head of Center for Medical Robotics at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, as senior vice president.
Kang, who has a doctoral degree in robotics at Seoul National University, has led the country's robotics technologies while leading robotics projects for medical and aerospace sectors.
In addition to recruiting experts in core technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Samsung also has high hopes for Kim to boost its smartphone sales.
"Kim will lead the firm's Global Direct to Consumer (GDC) center at Samsung. By expanding contact points with consumers through on and offline channels, we expect him to boost smartphone sales," Samsung said.
Samsung has been putting its efforts into scouting him since the second half of 2018. Kim has worked for luxury fashion retailers Burberry and Gucci. Kim was especially recognized for helping the U.S. fashion house AllSaints achieve more sales and profit since he took the CEO post in 2012.
The firm added Min will work as senior vice president of the firm's Seoul Design Office to increase the firm's design and will help increase the firm's design capabilities.
Also, Samsung recruited marketing and sales experts to reinforce its brand value and sales in North America and Europe.
It scouted James Fishler, former head of go-to-market (GTM) and channel marketing at Apple as senior vice president of Samsung Electronics America. For chief marketing officer of the firm's European unit, it appointed Benjamin Braun as vice president.
