Affiliate chiefs and their triumphs

Outside Samsung Electronics, Lee Soo-bin, chairman of Samsung Life Insurance, is the eldest CEO. He leads a council of affiliate presidents. Lee Soo-chang, Samsung Life Insurance CEO, has introduced an in-company college to nurture financial experts.

Chi Dae-sub, CEO of Samsung Fire and Marine Insurance, used to manage the finance and planning sectors of Samsung’s main affiliates. Park Chun-hyeon, Samsung Securities CEO, is a well-known financial figure, even in foreign circles. He recently joined Europe-based investment bank Rothschild in a venture to investigate merger and acquisition opportunities in global investment banking.

Yoo Suk-ryul, Samsung Card CEO, led a profit turnaround in 2006 after taking over when Samsung Card carried heavy deficits in 2003.

Marking the 70th anniversary of its founding, Samsung Group started to relocate to Seocho-dong, Gangnam, southern Seoul, in October. [JoongAng Ilbo]

Kim Jing-wan, Samsung Heavy Industries CEO, networks with the world’s ship owners and wins orders from them. Despite a worldwide economic slowdown, Samsung Heavy Industries earned $250 million worth of contracts in October alone. Lee Sang-dae, CEO of Samsung C&T Corporation, created a hit apartment brand “Raemian,” the first of its type in Korea.

Both Kim and Lee are graduates of Korea University.

Lee Soon-dong, president of Samsung Group’s brand committee and a former journalist, has been working in public relations since the early ’80s .

Meanwhile, former Chairman Lee’s two daughters Lee Boo-jin and Lee Seo-hyun serve as vice presidents of Shilla Hotel and Cheil Industries, respectively. Boo-jin leads the hotel’s duty free shop division. Seo-hyun played a decisive role in introducing Italy-based 10 Corso Como cafe to Korea.