Wonik IPS hires ex-Samsung chip expert as president 

Fab and display equipment maker Wonik IPS has hired an ex-Samsung chip expert in its recent reorganization, TheElec has learned.

The company named Ahn Tae-hyuk as head and president of its semiconductor research lab.

Ahn was last the executive vice president at Samsung SDI, where he oversaw their small and electric vehicle battery businesses from 2017 to 2021.

The executive also previously worked at Samsung Electronics’ memory and logic businesses.

Wonik IPS likely hired Ahn to strengthen its fab equipment business. The company has been focusing on developing new plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition equipment and atomic layer deposition equipment.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix accounted for around 70% of its revenue as of the third quarter last year.

The two South Korean chip giants are expected to expand their production capacities going forward, which will benefit Wonik IPS as it is seeing more of its equipment used by the two.

Meanwhile, Wonik IPS also hired Cha Nam-hyun, who was previously a senior vice president and head of Vietnam operations at Samsung SDI, as a senior vice president of quality assurance.

Wonik IPS CEO Lee Deok-hyun was also named head of its display business and head of display research lab. Executive vice president Kim Dong-gi, who previously was CEO of Alpha Holdings, was named head of the newly formed research planning division.

The company also formed a customer support division called technical solution for account (TSA). Ex-Samsung executive Baek Sang-cheon will oversee team within the division responsible for the relationship with Samsung; ex-SK Hynix executive Kim Hyun-soo those with SK Hynix.