Samsung announces its first ever female president

Samsung has officially announced that it has promoted a female executive to the position of President. According to Yonhap News Agency, Samsung Electronics has promoted Lee Young-hee to the President’s post of the Global Marketing Center for the Samsung DX (Device eXperience) division. It is the same department that oversees its smartphone business.

This is quite a feat for Lee Young-hee, as she has been working with Samsung Electronics since 2007. She was promoted to the position of Vice President in 2012. Prior to joining Samsung in 2007, Lee worked with L’Oreal. Samsung has credited her for promoting the image and brand of Samsung Galaxy phones.

Also, Samsung Electronics looks at this promotion of Lee to the presidential post of a critical division in the company as a chance for other female employees to put in their efforts, climb the ladder, and get rewarded, irrespective of their gender. Notably, Lee Young-hee is a part of the minor corporate reshuffle conducted for the first time since Lee Jae-yong was promoted to Executive Chairman of the company in October.

Interestingly, Samsung hasn’t appointed a new head for its home appliance unit. This position has been vacant since Lee Jae-seung resigned in October, citing personal reasons. The duty since then has been borne by Han Jong-hee, Vice Chair and co-CEO at Samsung Electronics, the company said.

The elder daughter of late Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, Lee Boo-jin, is currently serving as the President and Chief Executive of Hotel Shilla, a Samsung affiliate.