LG Electronics has promoted Brian Kwon, head of its mobile and home entertainment divisions, the new CEO from 01 December. Park Hyoung-sei will take over as president of the Home Entertainment company, and Morris Lee is the new head of Mobile Communications. In addition, the company named William Cho to the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer and Bae Doo-yong as CFO.
Kwon (56) has been at the company over 30 years. His positions included business planning at LG Wales and head of the monitor division before being promoted to oversee Home Entertainment in 2014 and leading the mobile division since December 2018. He replaces Seong-jin Jo, who served as CEO since 2016.
Senior vice president Lee joined Goldstar in 1988 and has held various positions in LG’s mobile, TV and IT businesses as well as five years at parent company LG Corp as vice president. He previously led LG's mobile business in North America, a key market for the Korean company looking to turnaround its struggling smartphone business.Executive vice president Park Hyoung-sei takes the helm of the Home Entertainment company after 25 years in the business unit. He has experience in TVs, PCs and monitors and spent most of his time focusing on the US market.
Executive vice president Bae Doo-yong assumes the role of CFO after seven years as head of LG’s tax and trade division. He first joined LG in 2005 and replaces long-time executive Do-Hyun (David) Jung.
CSO to lead digital transformation
LG said the new leadership team will focus on accelerating LG’s digital transformation across all operations, in order to be more 'data-centric'. To this end, the Chief Strategy Office has been re-established to work across all business units as well as sister LG companies. The CSO will be headed by William Cho, who will return to the Korean headquarters after leading LG’s North America operations for the past six years.
LG also plans to expand its focus on future core and common technologies with the establishment of the Future Technology Center to support the existing Artificial Intelligence Lab, Advanced Robotics Lab and Software Business Project Management Office under the CTO division. Future businesses with strong potential, such as smart home, content partnerships and beauty care will be bolstered and broadened, the company said. Other organizational changes to speed up decision-making in critical areas will be implemented, with some overseas responsibilities for research and development, production, purchasing and design transferred to headquarters.
All the appointments are effective 01 December, with promotions taking effect 01 January 2020.
