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Samsung loses key mobile executive to Citigroup

Omar Khan, head of strategy and product management for Samsung's U.S. mobile division, will run Citigroup's mobile services.

Roger Cheng Former Executive Editor / Head of News
Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.
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Roger Cheng

Omar Khan, the face of many of Samsung's U.S. mobile events, is leaving for Citigroup.

Samsung's Omar Khan, head of strategy and product management, leaves for Citigroup. Samsung
Khan, who was the head of products and technology for Samsung's U.S. mobile division and the main pitchman for its many smartphones and tablets, will help develop Citigroup's global mobile services. He announced his departure in an e-mail on Sunday.

Khan's move marks the second one by a high-profile telecommunications executive to the financial industry. Last year, Dan Schulman, who previously ran Virgin Mobile, moved to run American Express' mobile business.

While J.K. Shin, head of Samsung's mobile division, often unveiled key products at events, Khan was often the executive the company relied on to go into detail about the products. For example, Khan spent a majority of the time on stage at Samsung's Galaxy Tab presentation at CES.

Khan said that Nick Dicarlo, head of portfolio planning and product marketing, and Gavin Kim, who runs content, data services, and enterprise mobility, would be taking over some of his duties.

A Samsung spokeswoman said that Tim Rowden would take over many of his other duties.

"Omar is not leaving to join a competitor to Samsung, and we anticipate having a continued relationship with him once he settles into his new role," according to the spokeswoman.

Updated at 9:21 a.m. PT: Added comment from Samsung.

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