Renault vs Samsung: Founders, CEOs and History
Renault was founded in 1899 by Louis Renault, Marcel Renault, Fernand Renault and is led by François Provost. Samsung was founded in 1969 by Lee Byung-chul and is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon.
Company facts
Founders
Renault
Louis Renault
Louis Renault was the engineering force behind Renault. After building the Voiturette Type A in Billancourt in 1898, he co-founded Societe Renault Freres with his brothers Marcel and Fernand in 1899. Racing success helped prove the cars' reliability.
Marcel Renault
Marcel Renault co-founded Societe Renault Freres in 1899 and handled much of the early business side with his brother Fernand. He also raced the company's cars and won the 1902 Paris-Vienna race, which gave the young brand international publicity.
Fernand Renault
Fernand Renault co-founded Societe Renault Freres in 1899 and worked on its commercial side, including sales, alongside Marcel. Ill health led him to step back, and he sold his share to Louis before his death in 1909.
Samsung
Lee Byung-chul
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung Sanghoe in Daegu in 1938, trading dried fish, produce and noodles.
CEOs and their tenures
Renault
- Louis Schweitzer1992–2005
Chairman and CEO
The Nissan alliance Schweitzer built became central to Renault's scale and technology-sharing for the next two decades, and the Dacia relaunch he set in motion grew into a brand contributing roughly 30% of Group vehicle sales by 2025, a lasting structural lega…
Source - Luca de Meo2020–2025
CEO
By the time de Meo left in 2025 to become CEO of Kering (Gucci's parent company), Renaulution had delivered three consecutive years of revenue growth, with successor Francois Provost publicly calling it 'clearly a success story' and Alpine registrations more t…
Source - François Provost2025–present
Chief Executive Officer
Renault's former head of procurement and partnerships; became CEO on July 31, 2025 after Luca de Meo left for Kering.
Source
Samsung
- Jong-Hee Han2022–2025
Vice Chairman and CEO
A longtime TV business leader who helped keep Samsung the top global TV brand. He died suddenly in March 2025 while in office.
Source - Jay Y. Lee2022–present
Executive Chairman
Grandson of the founder and son of Lee Kun-hee. He was convicted in the 2017 bribery case and pardoned in 2022, and became Executive Chairman in October 2022. In 2025 the Supreme Court upheld his acquittal in the separate merger and accounting fraud case.
Source - Jun Young-hyun2024–present
Vice Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head of Device Solutions
He implemented a complete overhaul of the semiconductor division's engineering processes, issuing a rare public apology in 2024 for the company's technological delays.
Source - Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh)2025–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head of Device eXperience
As head of the MX (Mobile eXperience) division, he heavily integrated AI features (Galaxy AI) into the S-series flagship phones to combat Apple's dominance in the premium tier.
Source
Timeline: Renault and Samsung side by side
1899Renault
Renault Freres is founded
Louis, Marcel, and Fernand Renault founded Renault, building on Louis Renault's early engineering work.
1899Renault
Renault Founded
Louis Renault, along with brothers Marcel and Fernand, founds Societe Renault Freres after Louis patents a direct-drive transmission system.
1938Samsung
Samsung Group begins
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung as a trading company before later generations expanded the group into electronics and industry.
1945Renault
Renault is nationalized
After World War II, Renault became a state-owned French automaker, shaping its role in national industry for decades.
1969Samsung
Samsung Electronics established
Samsung Electronics Industry Co. Ltd. was established as the group entered electronics manufacturing.
1977Samsung
Korea Semiconductor acquired
Samsung acquired Korea Semiconductor, a key step toward memory and component manufacturing leadership.
1992Renault
Louis Schweitzer becomes CEO
Louis Schweitzer became CEO of Renault in 1992. The Nissan alliance Schweitzer built became central to Renault's scale and technology-sharing for the next two decades, and the Dacia relaunch he set in motion grew into a brand contributing roughly 30% of Group…
1993Samsung
New Management initiative
Lee Kun-hee launched the New Management push to raise quality, design, and global competitiveness.
1996Renault
Renault is privatized
Privatization gave Renault more strategic flexibility ahead of international expansion and alliance building.
1999Renault
Renault-Nissan Alliance begins
Renault's investment in Nissan created a cross-shareholding alliance that shaped Renault's global footprint and strategy.
1999Renault
Dacia becomes part of Renault
Renault acquired control of Dacia, building the value-brand platform that became central to European and emerging-market growth.
2017Samsung
Harman acquisition closes
Samsung completed the Harman acquisition, expanding into connected car systems and premium audio.
2021Renault
Renaulution strategy launches
The Renaulution plan shifted focus from volume to value, cost discipline, electrification, and brand clarity.
2022Samsung
Jong-Hee Han becomes CEO
Jong-Hee Han became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2022. A longtime TV business leader who helped keep Samsung the top global TV brand.
2024Samsung
Jun Young-hyun becomes CEO
Jun Young-hyun became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2024. Head of the semiconductor (Device Solutions) division and memory business; sole CEO for part of 2025 after Han Jong-hee's death, then co-CEO with TM Roh from November 2025.
2025Renault
Francois Provost appointed CEO
Francois Provost was appointed Chief Executive Officer effective July 31, 2025, succeeding Luca de Meo's leadership era.
2025Renault
Revenue reaches ~$65.4 billion (EUR57.92 billion)
Renault Group reported FY2025 revenue of ~$65.4 billion (EUR57.92 billion) and a net loss driven by Nissan-related accounting impacts.
2025Samsung
TM Roh joins Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO
Samsung named TM Roh Head of Device eXperience and CEO, joining Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO.
2025Samsung
Annual revenue reaches ~$237B (KRW 333.6T)
Samsung Electronics reported ~$237 billion (KRW 333.6 trillion) in 2025 annual revenue and ~$31 billion (KRW 43.6 trillion) in operating profit.
2025Samsung
Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh) becomes CEO
Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh) became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2025. Longtime head of the mobile business.
Acquisitions
Renault
- Dacia1999Undisclosed
- Nissan alliance1999$5.4B
- AMC (American Motors Corporation) stake1979Undisclosed
Samsung
- FlaktGroup2025$1.7B
- Xealth2025Undisclosed
- Harman International2017$8B
- SmartThings2014$200M
Questions about Renault vs Samsung
Who is the CEO of Renault S.A. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Renault S.A. is led by François Provost and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Renault S.A. founded vs Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Renault S.A. was founded in 1899 — 70 years before Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., which was founded in 1969. Renault S.A.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd..
How many employees does Renault S.A. have compared to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Renault S.A. employs approximately 98,000 people, while Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. employs approximately 259,149. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has the larger workforce at 259,149 employees, compared to Renault S.A.'s 98,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Renault S.A. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. headquartered?
Renault S.A. is headquartered in France and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is headquartered in South Korea. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Renault S.A. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Renault S.A. was founded by Louis Renault, Marcel Renault, Fernand Renault. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. was founded by Lee Byung-chul.
Which company has a longer operating history — Renault S.A. or Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Renault S.A. has been operating for approximately 127 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has been in operation for around 57 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Renault vs Samsung overview