Report: Top Samsung Mobile Execs Exit U.S. Operation

Six top executives, including a mobile retail and channel marketing vice president, have exited Samsung’s Telecommunications America (STA) operation in the last two months, according to a CNET report relying on people familiar with the company.

The departures come less than a year into President and Chief Executive Gregory Lee’s tenure running the Korean device maker’s U.S. mobile and electronics business, although it’s not clear if there’s a direct connection between the two. The STA unit, based in Richardson, Texas, reports to Lee, a 10-year company veteran who previously managed Samsung’s Southeast Asia and Oceania operations and has handled its U.S. business only since last July.

Samsung recently rolled out a new channel enablement program to deliver benefits to partners and back sales to specific vertical markets. 

CNET reported that Samsung has lost its head of retail and channel sales, national sales, mobile devices product chief and a key mobile strategist. Among the departures:

Another top executive, Kevin Packingham, Samsung chief product officer, left the company four months after Lee took over.

Both Ramachandran and Madhavapeddy have been publicly visible executives for Samsung, with the former taking part in Samsung’s Note Pro and Tab Pro tablet CES presentation last January, and the latter a key member of the company’s team at Mobile World Congress in February.

The resignations, which have gutted STA’s top management team, may have given more light to Samsung’s reputation for pushing employees with long hours and frequent travel, CNET speculated, although no single definite reason has surfaced for the departures.

“As our U.S. business continues to diversify and expand, we will continue to build an industry-leading organization with people who will contribute to even greater success for Samsung,” Samsung said in a statement. “Some have left voluntarily to pursue other opportunities, and we thank them for their service.”

CNET reported that Cerny has surfaced at Apple’s (AAPL) human resource department.