President & CEO, Samsung SDS (Seoul, Korea)

Dr. Won-Pyo Hong is currently President & CEO of Samsung SDS, the largest IT solutions and service provider in Korea. Before joining Samsung SDS, Dr. Hong was President and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Samsung Electronics, playing a critical role to position Samsung as the world’s premiere handset manufacturer and a globally valued brand. As Head of Global Product Strategy for the Mobile Communications Business, he introduced the GALAXY franchise to Samsung’s mobile portfolio, which propelled the brand to become the most popular and advanced line of Android devices. Dr. Hong instigated several key initiatives during his stint as President and Head of Media Solutions Center, such as IoT innovations, multi-screen consumer experience, and cloud-based content. As an industry visionary, Dr. Hong’s addressed his latest keynote speeches at Money 20/20 (2017), CES (2016), and CeBIT (2015). He had shared Samsung’s IoT vision and inspired the audience with his perspective on cutting-edge technologies and services such as Smart Health, Smart Home and Industrial IoT. Previous to pursuing his career with Samsung, Dr. Hong was with Bell Communications Research Inc. in New Jersey immediately after earning his Ph.D., and subsequently spent thirteen years at Korea Telecom Corporation. His Alma Mater, University of Michigan, recently recognized his accomplishments as an industry leader and awarded him the “Impact Award” in 2017 and “Korean Michigan Alumni of the Year” in 2016. He was also presented with the “Order of Sport Merit, Geosang Medal,” a national medal bestowed by the Korean government for his contributions in the success of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games during his tenure as the CMO of Samsung Electronics.