Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest handset maker, has reportedly just given its mobile design chief a vote of no confidence.
On Thursday, news emerged that Chang Dong-hoon has “offered to resign” following a strong influx of user criticisms pertaining to the design of the company’s most recent Galaxy S smartphone model.
Dong-hoon will be replaced by Lee Min-hyouk, vice president for mobile design at Samsung.
“The realignment will enable Chang to focus more on his role as head of the Design Strategy Team, the company’s corporate design center which is responsible for long-term design strategy across all of Samsung’s businesses, including Mobile Communications,” a Samsung representative is quoted by Reuters.
The Galaxy S5, which debuted globally last month, has received a lukewarm response from consumers due to its lack of eye-popping hardware innovations, while its plastic case design has been panned by some critics for looking cheap and made out of a conveyor belt. The Wall Street Journal said the gold-colored back cover on the S5 looked like a band-aid.
The decision by Samsung, which now sells two times more smartphones than Apple, to act quickly to pacify consumer complaints should go a long way to help the South Korean electronics giant remain far ahead of Apple in overall sales.
