President Jo Nam-seong, who became the single representative of Samsung SDI earlier this month, carried out company restructuring to place the focus on promoting substance. The core of this restructuring is to strengthen overseas sales and technological competitiveness for the medium to large-sized batteries, which are the company’s key business item, and to slim down the organizational structure. It is being evaluated as a shift from the future-oriented to a substance-centered organization.

Samsung SDI recently carried out an organizational restructuring and appointed Vice President Jeong Se-wung from Samsung Electronics’ System LSI Division to be in charge of its medium to large-size battery business division and a technical expert from a leading global battery maker as the director of (executive director) medium to large-size battery development division. In addition, Samsung SDI integrated energy storage system (ESS) and electric vehicle battery teams in the medium to large-size battery division for the first time since the company’s foundation.

For the restructuring, Samsung SDI recently abolished the two-division system comprised of energy solution and materials. It then converted to the four-division system of small cell, medium to large-battery, chemical and electronic materials and finished up the respective sub-division establishment.

As ESS and electric vehicle battery teams were integrated according to the restructuring, Vice President Jeong was placed in charge of the medium to large-size battery division including electric vehicle battery business and Executive Director Kim Wu-chan will continue to handle the ESS business. Vice President Jeong, who is from non-memory semiconductor field, is a B2B marketing expert. He is equipped with not only the knowledge of engineering technologies, but also overseas sales capacity, according to sources. In addition, Samsung SDI plans to strengthen technological competitiveness by assigning outside personnel verified as electric vehicle battery experts to be in charge of the important task of medium to large-size battery development. This restructuring, according to an analysis, will contribute to improving the company’s expertise for field-centered technological business suitable for the existing client management and the development of new car markets where BEV (battery electric vehicle) and PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) models are being expanded. In addition, through the integration between ESS and electric vehicle teams, the restructuring is anticipated to produce synergy in terms of pack development, manufacturing and quality control.

On the other hand, for small cell division, the focus was placed on stabilizing production together with technological advancement. Vice President Ahn Jae-ho from manufacturing and pack business field was promoted to be in charge of small cell division. Executive Director Kim Yu-mi, who is formerly the director of research center, will support Vice President Ahn as the director of small cell development division.

It is evaluated that this restructuring conveys the strong will of President Jo Nam-seong to make the company’s medium to large-sized batteries climb to the global top position following small cells. A Samsung SDI source said, “The focus is placed on creating synergy through electric vehicle and ESS battery business integration while responding preemptively to the rapidly changing market environment.”

Park Tae-joon | gaius@etnews.com

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