Samsung vs W. R. Berkley: Founders, CEOs and History
Samsung was founded in 1969 by Lee Byung-chul and is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon. W. R. Berkley was founded in 1967 by William R. Berkley and is led by W. Robert Berkley, Jr..
Company facts
Samsung
- Founded
- 1969
- Headquarters
- Suwon, South Korea
- Current CEO
- Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon
- Employees
- 259,149
W. R. Berkley
- Founded
- 1967
- Headquarters
- Greenwich, Connecticut
- Current CEO
- W. Robert Berkley, Jr.
- Employees
- 8,800
Founders
Samsung
Lee Byung-chul
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung Sanghoe in Daegu in 1938, trading dried fish, produce and noodles.
W. R. Berkley
William R. Berkley
William R. Berkley founded W. R. Berkley Corporation in 1967 and led it for nearly 50 years, first as CEO and then, from 2015, as executive chairman. He built the company into a Fortune 500 commercial insurer organized around specialized underwriting units.
CEOs and their tenures
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
W. R. Berkley
- William R. Berkley1967–2026
Founder and Executive Chairman
As the legendary Founder (who started the company while studying at Harvard Business School in 1967), he built an absolutely massive, highly profitable specialty insurance empire, famously refusing to compete on price during soft markets.
Source - W. Robert Berkley, Jr.2015–present
Chairman, President and CEO
Leads the company's cycle-management approach. In Q2 2026 that meant growing Insurance segment premiums 5.4% while Reinsurance & Monoline Excess premiums declined, and returning $334.1M to shareholders in the quarter.
Source
Timeline: Samsung and W. R. Berkley side by side
1938Samsung
Samsung Group begins
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung as a trading company before later generations expanded the group into electronics and industry.
1967W. R. Berkley
Company Founded
William R. Berkley founds the business that becomes W. R. Berkley Corporation.
1969Samsung
Samsung Electronics established
Samsung Electronics Industry Co. Ltd. was established as the group entered electronics manufacturing.
1973W. R. Berkley
Public Listing
W. R. Berkley becomes a publicly traded company.
1977Samsung
Korea Semiconductor acquired
Samsung acquired Korea Semiconductor, a key step toward memory and component manufacturing leadership.
1993Samsung
New Management initiative
Lee Kun-hee launched the New Management push to raise quality, design, and global competitiveness.
2015W. R. Berkley
CEO Succession
W. Robert Berkley, Jr. becomes CEO and William R. Berkley becomes executive chairman.
2017Samsung
Harman acquisition closes
Samsung completed the Harman acquisition, expanding into connected car systems and premium audio.
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.
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.
2025W. R. Berkley
FY2025 Revenue of $14.71B
Total revenues reach $14.71B and net income to common stockholders reaches $1.78B.
2026W. R. Berkley
Mitsui Sumitomo Completes 15% Stake
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, part of MS&AD, completes its purchase of 15% of W. R. Berkley's outstanding common stock in Q1 2026.
2026W. R. Berkley
Founder Dies
Founder and executive chairman William R. Berkley dies on June 9, 2026, at age 80.
2026W. R. Berkley
Record Q2 2026 Premiums
Gross premiums written reach a record $4.14B and net income to common stockholders is $452.3M.
Acquisitions
Samsung
- FlaktGroup2025$1.7B
- Xealth2025Undisclosed
- Harman International2017$8B
- SmartThings2014$200M
W. R. Berkley
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about Samsung vs W. R. Berkley
Who is the CEO of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and W. R. Berkley Corporation?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon and W. R. Berkley Corporation is led by W. Robert Berkley, Jr.. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. founded vs W. R. Berkley Corporation?
W. R. Berkley Corporation was founded in 1967 — 2 years before Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., which was founded in 1969. W. R. Berkley Corporation'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 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. have compared to W. R. Berkley Corporation?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. employs approximately 259,149 people, while W. R. Berkley Corporation employs approximately 8,800. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has the larger workforce at 259,149 employees, compared to W. R. Berkley Corporation's 8,800. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and W. R. Berkley Corporation headquartered?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is headquartered in South Korea and W. R. Berkley Corporation is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and W. R. Berkley Corporation?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. was founded by Lee Byung-chul. W. R. Berkley Corporation was founded by William R. Berkley.
Which company has a longer operating history — Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. or W. R. Berkley Corporation?
W. R. Berkley Corporation has been operating for approximately 59 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 Samsung vs W. R. Berkley overview