UPDATE: Itโs official. On April 1, Samsung announced Mauro Porcini as its President and Chief Design Officer (CDO). โWith the addition of Mr. Porcini, Samsung Electronics plans to further strengthen its design capabilities across all business areas, including mobile, TV and home appliances,โ the company said in a press release.
The original article published on March 27, 2025, follows
Samsung is reportedly in talks with Mauro Porcini, a former Chief Design Officer (CDO) of PepsiCo. Samsung wants to appoint him as the CDO of its mobile business division. If the two parties land an agreement, Porcini would become the Korean firmโs first foreign head of design in its 56-year history. Founded in 1969, Samsung Electronics has never had a foreign CDO.
Mauro Porcini could soon join Samsung as the CDO of its mobile business division
Porcini confirmed in a LinkedIn post that he will be leaving PepsiCo at the end of the month. However, he has not disclosed his next role. He added, โIn a few days, Iโll share whatโs next.โ Porciniโs track record is very impressive. Thanks to his visionary skills, he got a spot on Fortuneโs 40 Under 40 list in 2012. He was the only designer on the 2012 list. He also received the Italian National Merit Honor for carrying the design legacy of Italy to the world.
Mauro Porcini
Samsungโs current smartphone designs are somewhat repetitive. The flagship models have barely seen any changes to the design for a long time. This hiring has not been confirmed yet, but if Samsung appoints Porcini as the CDO, it could majorly change Samsungโs smartphone design approach and make their devices look more unique and modern.
Porcini wonโt be Samsungโs first high-profile hiring in the design department in recent years. In 2022, the company hired Hubert H Lee (former Mercedes designer) for its Mobile Experience design team. With over two decades of work experience at Mercedes and multiple designs credited to him, he has helped in the designs of the Galaxy S series, the Z series, and the Watches. In 2019, Samsung hired Steve McManus, a former Apple designer responsible for the iPhone and iPad. McManus later integrated the overall style of Galaxy phones elegantly with the software.
Samsung doesnโt just hire new designers, though. The company acquired a former Google AOL executive in 2011, David Eun. He was responsible for a lot of investment efforts and innovation. In 2016, Samsung also hired a neuroscience expert, Sebastian Seung, from Princeton University. He is now president of the AI research division with a focus on neuroscience-based technology.
Some more successful hirings include Gregory Lee in 2013, who became the head of the entire US mobile division. He played a key role in boosting Samsungโs brand image in the US.
