SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Samsung Electronics named a new chief executive Wednesday, less than a month after the resignation of Chairman Lee Kun-hee following his indictment on tax evasion charges.

External relations chief Lee Yoon-woo, who has been around the company for 40 years, is expected to ease the transition for the world's largest computer memory chipmaker.

Yun Jong-yong stepped down last month, but will serve as an adviser.

Lee Yoon-woo joined Samsung SDI Co., a Samsung Group affiliate, in 1968 and has worked for Samsung Electronics since 1977. He also led its chip business from 1996 to 2004.

''Lee is known in the market as 'decisive' in management,'' said C.W. Chung, an analyst at Lehman Brothers. ''Samsung's decision-making process is expected to be speedy and decisive under his leadership.''

Samsung, which manufactures electronic devices including memory chips, cell phones and flat-panel TVs, also replaced the top executive at its semiconductor business.

Kwon Oh-hyun, chief of Samsung's System LSI unit, was promoted to become the president of the semiconductor business division. He is replacing Hwang Chang-gyu, who's moving to become Samsung Electronics' chief technology officer.