Top executives at Samsung Electronics’ mobile business unit will step down to take responsibility for the sluggish mobile business this year, according to sources Monday.

Market watchers had expected the anticipated reshuffling, as Samsung had signaled that it would take action to streamline its oversized mobile business down the road.

Lee Don-joo, chief of the mobile business unit’s strategic marketing office, Kim Jae-kwon, chief of the global operations office and Lee Chul-hwan, head of the mobile R&D office will resign from their posts due to the disappointing business performance this year.

Hong Won-Pyo, former head of the media solution center under the mobile business apparatus, has been named head of the global marketing strategy office at the tech giant. 

The number of presidents at the tech giant’s mobile business will consequently be reduced to three ― mobile business chief Shin Jong-kyun, Kim Young-ky, president of the networks business, and Kim Jong-ho, president of the global production technology center.

Contrary to industry speculation, Shin retained his post and was granted another chance to revive the sluggish mobile business next year.

“Shin has made significant contribution in helping Samsung to become the global No.1 in the mobile market,” said Lee June, Samsung Groups’ communications chief, at a media briefing.

“The president will have another chance to reinvigorate the mobile business in a new business environment,” he added.

With the departure of Lee Don-ju, the strategy marketing office is expected to be dissolved into several units directly controlled by Shin, according to industry watchers.

Executive vice president Roh Tae-moon, who has been credited with the success of the Galaxy smartphone models, is also expected to work closely with the mobile chief to fill the management void caused by the latest presidential reshuffles.

Samsung Group, meanwhile, announced its annual executive reshuffle Monday. Former executive vice presidents Kim Hyun-suk, and Jun Young-hyun became the presidents of Samsung Electronics’ visual display and memory businesses, respectively.

Lee Yun-tae, former executive vice president of Samsung Display’s LCD development team, will serve as the president and chief executive of Samsung Electro-Mechanics.

It is said that the annual shake-up was conducted on a relatively small scale compared to those in the past since the conglomerate’s affiliates were underachieving overall this year.

Samsung Group did not unveil any restructuring plan throughout its business units in Monday’s announcement, however, the communications chief said the conglomerate would announce the plan for organizational realignment soon after the annual shake-ups for managers next week.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)