Samsung heir takes a role in new venture with Sony

Lee Jay Y, Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee’s son and heir, has been named an executive of S-LCD Corp., a new Samsung Electronics/Sony joint venture, Samsung said yesterday. Mr. Lee, 36, is also an executive in Samsung Electronics’ management and planning unit. The new company, which will produce amorphous thin-film-transistor liquid crystal display products, will launch on July 15. Senior management in the 50-50 joint venture will consist of four personnel from Samsung and four from Sony. The chief executive officer will be Chang Won-kie, vice president of Samsung Electronics; Sony’s Keiji Nakazawa has been appointed representative director and chief financial officer. “Mr. Lee, who has a strong interest in high-tech industries, including the liquid crystal display industry, has participated in S-LCD Corp. from the beginning,” said a Samsung official. “Sony positively asked for Mr. Lee to participate in an executive position.” Mr. Lee has been actively participating in the company’s activities, including voting on the new company’s major issues at a board meeting that was held last month. Mr. Lee also recently accompanied his father to meet presidents and executives of Samsung’s major affiliates while visiting the electronics giant’s cell phone factory in Gumi and its Cheonan liquid crystal display plant. by Lee Hyun-sang