Jim Elliott, a veteran executive who spent over 20 years leading Samsung Electronics' memory operations in the US, has reportedly exited the company to join rival NAND flash provider SanDisk as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), according to sources cited by South Korea's Financial News (Fnnews) and Asian Economic News Agency.
Most recently serving as Vice President of Samsung's Device Solutions America (DSA), Elliott oversaw the company's semiconductor and device business across the region. Since joining Samsung in 2001, he played a pivotal role in establishing the brand's dominance in North America's memory sector. From 2021 onward, he led the US memory division, steering sales strategy, quality assurance, and customer relations.
Elliott has been a frequent speaker at major industry events, including Flash Memory Summit and Samsung Memory Tech Day, where he regularly highlighted Samsung's technological leadership in memory innovation.
Elliott's arrival is expected to bolster SanDisk's B2B strategy in North America, particularly as the company looks to expand its AI-focused storage portfolio, solidify ties with Western Digital following their split, and scale its footprint in high-performance industrial SSDs.
At the same time, Samsung DSA is reshuffling its leadership team to sharpen competitiveness in the US market, where securing major tech clients has become a strategic imperative.
In early 2025, Samsung named Margaret Han, former VP of Global Procurement at NXP Semiconductors, as Executive Vice President and head of its US foundry operations. Han, who previously held senior posts at TSMC and Intel, brings deep expertise in semiconductor procurement and supply chain management, underscoring Samsung's intent to ramp up its foundry capabilities.
Industry analysts say the race to win next-gen AI chip accounts—spanning Nvidia, AMD, Tesla, and Amazon—is driving Samsung's intensified focus on placing senior leadership in its North American operations.
Article edited by Jack Wu
