Choi Chang-won Becomes SK's 'Relief Pitcher'... Key Affiliates Also Appoint Next-Generation Leaders

Choi Chang-won, Vice Chairman of SK Discovery
Newly Appointed Chairman of SK Supex Council

SK Inc., SK Innovation, SK Siltron, and Other
Key Affiliates Appoint Next-Generation Leaders as CEOs

Choi Chang-won, the new Chairman of SK Supex Council. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Amid a complex crisis, SK Group has appointed Choi Chang-won, Vice Chairman of SK Discovery, to the position of Chairman of the SK Supex Council, the group's second-in-command role.

On the 7th, SK held a meeting of the SK Supex Council, the group's highest consultative body, where it approved new appointments including the chairman and shared and discussed executive personnel matters such as CEOs decided by the boards of directors of each affiliate. On the same day, the SK Supex Council appointed Vice Chairman Choi Chang-won of SK Discovery as the new chairman for a two-year term. Vice Chairman Choi has led SK's chemical and bio businesses, having served as CEO of SK Chemical since 2007 and as CEO of the intermediate holding company SK Discovery since 2017.

Regarding the appointment of Chairman Choi, SK Group stated, "Vice Chairman Choi was selected as the new chairman based on the consensus among affiliate CEOs that he is the right person to further develop each company's board-centered management and the group's unique 'together yet separate' management culture."

In addition to appointing Choi Chang-won as chairman, the SK Supex Council also newly appointed Ji Dong-seop, President of SK On, as Chair of the SV Committee, and Jeong Jae-heon, President in charge of External Cooperation at SK Telecom, as Chair of the Governance Committee. Newly appointed SV Chair Ji Dong-seop has led SK On's battery business. Newly appointed Governance Chair Jeong Jae-heon previously served as head of the SK Square Investment Support Center and will concurrently serve as SK Telecom's head of external cooperation. SK Group explained, "This council personnel move focuses on proactively responding to rapidly changing internal and external management environments and establishing management infrastructure and change management that enable SK affiliates to create 'together' synergies."

Each affiliate held board meetings to appoint Jang Yong-ho, President of SK Siltron, as President of SK Inc.; Park Sang-gyu, President of SK Enmove, as President of SK Innovation; Lee Yong-wook, President of SK Inc. Materials, as President of SK Siltron; Oh Jong-hoon, head of SK Energy P&M CIC, as President of SK Energy; and Lee Seok-hee, former President of SK Hynix, as President of SK On.

Additionally, Kim Yang-taek, head of SK Inc.'s Advanced Materials Investment Center, was appointed President of SK Inc. Materials, and Kim Won-gi, head of SK Enmove's Green Growth Headquarters, was appointed President of SK Enmove.

Chairman Cho Dae-sik, who has led the Supex Council since 2017, along with SK Inc. Vice Chairman Jang Dong-hyun, SK Innovation Vice Chairman Kim Jun, and SK Hynix Vice Chairman Park Jung-ho, will step down or move from their CEO positions. With Vice Chairman Park's departure, Kwak No-jung, President of SK Hynix, has become the sole CEO.

Chairman Cho Dae-sik will contribute to group growth by advising on the execution of key affiliate financial stories and global investment strategies as Vice Chairman of SK Inc. Vice Chairman Jang Dong-hyun will maintain his position at SK Inc. while serving as co-CEO (Vice Chairman) of SK Ecoplant alongside President Park Kyung-il, focusing on business area advancement aimed at a successful IPO. Vice Chairman Kim Jun will continue as Vice Chairman of SK Innovation, leveraging his experience and expertise to contribute continuously to the company's growth and development. Vice Chairman Park Jung-ho, as Vice Chairman of SK Inc. and SK Hynix, will lead AI alliances with global big tech companies and focus on expanding future growth engines based on AI infrastructure.

SK Group stated, "Each company has made 'prepared personnel' appointments by opening opportunities to new management who have been nurtured through the group's long-standing next-generation CEO development program," adding, "Vice Chairman-level CEOs will continue to serve as mentors and supporters for junior executives by leveraging their accumulated experience and expertise within the group."