Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun, one of the three co-CEOs of the company, is reportedly visiting the United States this week to meet several clients. Reports out of South Korea suggest that the Samsung CEO is also going to conduct meetings with Apple's top brass.
Kwon Oh-hyun is head of Samsung's chips and parts business division. He has also been leading Samsung's display-making affiliate Samsung Display since April last year. The two other co-CEOs head the smartphone and appliance business divisions respectively.
The timing of this trip may not be a coincidence. Samsung Display is expected to begin production of the OLED panels for Apple's next flagship smartphone in July. It's likely going to be the sole supplier of OLED panels for the iPhone.
Samsung has immense potential in the components business which can open up new avenues for partnership with one of its biggest rivals. Kwon Oh-hyun will be in a good position to negotiate such a deal as he happens to be in charge of operations in both the display panel and memory chip business divisions.
“Considering Kwon oversees both chip and display businesses, his visit is expected to affect the ongoing partnership between Samsung and Apple,” said an industry source cited in the report. It's claimed that top executives from both companies could discuss further partnership.
