By Kim Tong-hyung
LAS VEGAS ― Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Electronics president considered the eventual successor to his chairman father, Lee Kun-hee, was touring booths and mingling with industry people at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Friday (local time).
In a rare public appearance after being promoted to president late last year, Lee spoke glowingly about his father’s achievements in elevating the company into a world-beating corporation before Samsung officials cut off reporters from asking more questions.
``The chairman always motivates himself with new challenges. He is not an engineer nor a financial expert and not a professionally-trained salesman, but he has a unique ability to see and analyze everything in the big picture and an insatiable craving for new challenges. This is what I am trying to learn from him,’’ said the younger Lee.
``Of course, I can’t be exactly the same as him, but I am trying to learn his pioneer spirit and turn into a strength that is uniquely mine. Whether it’s a personal matter or a company issue, the chairman has a DNA that doesn’t allow him to take a loss in a good way. He loves new changes and more often than not overcomes them.’’
Lee assumed a major corporate role with Asian’s largest technology company when he was named as chief operating officer in December of 2009. He was promoted as a president last year and now complements Samsung Vice Chairman and CEO Choi Gee-sung.
``My essential role for the company hasn’t changed (since the promotion), but I know that the expectations have become bigger, so I feel a larger sense of responsibility,’’ Lee said, adding that he had been participating in the negotiation with business partners and potential buyers at the CES.
Lee, accompanied by Choi and Samsung television chief Yoon Boo-keun, spent several hours observing Samsung’s displayed devices and touring the booths of rival companies like Sony, Motorola, Toshiba and LG Electronics, Samsung’s bitter domestic rival. He showed particular interest in products like touch-screen tablets and three-dimensional (3D) televisions, according to Samsung officials.