The top management teams of not only information and technology (IT) and electronics, but also automotive industries are forecast to gather up at the CES 2015.
According to the industries on the 28th, domestic and overseas top management teams will attend the world’s largest home appliances fair ‘CES 2015’ to be held in Las Vegas on the 6th – 9th in the New Year (local time) to show off new products and technologies of their respective companies and also to set out on a preparation to secure income generation sources for the future.
From Samsung Electronics, President Yun Bu-geun of CE (Consumer Electronics) Division will introduce the company’s vision for Internet of things (IoT) and smart home businesses through a keynote speech on the evening of the 5th, a day before the opening of CES 2015. President Shin Jong-gyun of IM (IT and Mobile) Division and Director Kim Hyeon-seok of Video and Display Division will also lead the company’s exhibition and technological cooperation in Las Vegas. In addition, Samsung Display President Park Dong-geon will reside at the CES site in order to identify the panel industry trend and to attend meetings with clients.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is forecast not to attend the CES 2015 as Chairman Lee Kun-hee who is on a long-term medical care. Since making his first public appearance at the CES in January 2007 during which he was a managing director, Vice Chairman Lee had been continuously attending CES. However, he did not attend the event held earlier this year.
LG Electronics’ Vice Chairman Koo Bon-joon will again attend the event in person. In addition to CTO Ahn Seung-gwon, Director Jo Seong-jin of H&A (Home Appliance & Air Conditioning Energy) Division in charge of the company’s home appliances and TV sector and Director Gwon Bong-seok of HE (Home Entertainment) Division will also take command on the scene. As for President Jo, it is unknown whether or not he will attend the event as he was forbidden to leave the country in relation to the controversy over an incident of damaging Samsung Electronics’ washing machine, according to sources. LG Display, a leader in the display industry, will set up a special exhibition booth in Las Vegas and President Han Sang-beom will lead the company’s marketing in person. It is reported that attendance by LGU+ Vice Chairman Lee Sang-cheol and SK Hynix President Park Seong-wuk is also promising.
At the same time, attention is drawn to the movements of automotive industry’s top management teams. Automotive industry has been holding large-scale exhibitions and technological meetings since several years ago in the CES venues. Following Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler giving a keynote speech at the CES earlier this year as the first among automotive CEOs, Ford Chairman Mark Fields and Mercedes Benz – Daimler AG Chairman from Germany will give keynote speeches at the CES 2015. Two of the five keynote speakers at the CES 2015 are automotive CEOs. Automotive industry’s participation in the exhibition has also increased. At the CES 2015, 11 automotive companies including Hyundai Motor Company, Audi, BMW, Ford, Mercedes Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen will participate in the exhibition. The industry’s attention is drawn to whether or not Vice Chairman Jeong Eui-seon of Hyundai Motor Company will attend the event in person. Vice Chairman Jeong attended the CES in 2011. At the time, Vice Chairman Jeong commented that Hyundai Motor Company must strive to resemble BMW, which introduced a ‘connected car’ where IT and automotive technologies are integrated. As North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), the largest automotive fair in North America, will be held in Detroit immediately after the CES, Vice Chairman Jeong is forecast to attend NAIAS after CES. Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors have been attending CES by taking turns since 2009. At the CES 2014, Hyundai Motor Company Vice President Gwak Wu-yeong introduced the advanced telematics (vehicular wireless Internet) system technology. This year, the management is forecast to introduce the company’s next-generation technologies and attend meetings with key clients in Las Vegas.
Kim Seung-gyu | seung@etnews.com