Samsung Electronics Co. said on Tuesday it has replaced its purchasing team leader at mobile communications division to better respond to fast-changing market dynamics in the IT industry.

Samsung Electronics said Park Kyung-goon is sitting in for Park Jong-suh, vice president, who will have a sabbatical year. Park Kyung-goon, senior managing director, was responsible for buying semiconductor parts at mobile communications division.

Park jong-suh, born in 1957, was promoted to vice president and purchasing team leader at the division in 2012. He was in charge of resolving battery explosion issues of the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 and compensating partner companies. Previously, he headed a mutual development and cooperation center responsible for supporting suppliers.

Market watchers said that the sudden replacement reflects increasing power of heads of Samsung Electronics’ business departments amid the absence of vice chairman Jay Y. Lee, as the latest appointment was said to be directed by Koh Dong-jin, president of mobile communications division.

After failing to conduct its regular personnel reshuffle at the end of last year, the Korean tech giant promoted in May six people to vice presidents, 11 to senior managing directors, 30 to managing directors and two to master seniors at its consumer electronics and mobile communications divisions. It also replaced some management positions of each department and overseas operations to enhance business competitiveness.

An official from the company said that personnel replacement can be conducted whenever each division heads judge it necessary.

By Lee Dong-in

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