Samsung Enhances Its Digital Appliances Division

Commitment to products, people and performance drive Samsung’s integrated division for 2015

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 25 March, 2015Samsung Electronics South Africa is committed to constant innovation, development and growth, exploring ways in which to build on existing platforms and successes to improve products and systems. To this end, the electronics giant has merged three of its divisions, namely: home appliances (HA), residential air-conditioning (RAC) and system air-conditioning (SAC) which will now be known as Digital Appliances. This new business unit will deliver targeted and dynamic innovations to the South African market.

“The consolidation of these three business divisions will ensure that we deliver an enhanced level of service and array of solutions for our customers,” says Michael McKechnie, Head of Digital Appliances, Samsung Electronics SA. “It will allow us to provide richer experiences for the home and office of the future and shift even closer to our existing and active target markets.”   HA, RAC and SAC will each have an individual product manager to identify new channels to market and make each product offering more accessible and efficient for South Africa.

These three divisions demonstrated strong performance in 2014 and this amalgamation will blend their strengths to continue to drive market share and further expansion.   “We are building on the success we experienced in 2014 with this new, streamlined business unit,” says McKechnie. “There are a number of targeted product developments and initiatives planned, making 2015 an exciting time for us at Samsung.  I’m looking forward to the new challenges that it will present, as well as the opportunity to improve processes and really ensure superb customer involvement.”

This year is set to bring something special to the table in the home appliances arena - with the Dual Cook Oven, Sparkling Fridge and Ecobubble product ranges. The focus for this area is on trend; the connected home. As this technology and connectivity shift more deeply into the South African space, Samsung is geared up to provide various technologies that can tap into the connected life and the Internet of Things.

Further, consumers will also be in for a treat with new Virtual Flame induction cooking technology, a robot vacuum cleaner and the impressive WaterWall technology built into Samsung’s state-of-the-art dishwasher range.   The RAC and SAC arena will see the arrival of a cost-effective entry level range of room air-conditioners and the continuation of the successful DVMS (Digital Variable Multi System) selection of commercial air-conditioners.

McKechnie, who has been with the organisation since June 2011 and successfully guided the Digital Air Solutions Division into 2015, is well placed to lead this alliance. His skills in sales, marketing telecommunications and power solutions provide him with a deep understanding of the sector and the demands of the South African consumer.   “I am incredibly excited about the potential for this newly structured Digital Appliances Division and the role I am to play in its development. It is a privilege to take on this opportunity and I look forward to some truly exciting and dynamic products in 2015,” concludes McKechnie.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, printers, medical equipment, network systems and semiconductors. We are also leading in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Digital Health and Smart Home initiatives. We employ 307,000 people across 84 countries.

To discover more, please visit our official website at www.samsung.com and our official blog at global.samsungtomorrow.com