LG Electronics, LG Chem, and D&O Appoint New CEOs
Rise of CEOs Born in the 1970s: "Technology-Driven Talent"
Strategic Promotion of R&D Talent in ABC Fields
Performance-Based Approach Maintained Regardless of Age or Gender
LG Group has made a bold decision to bring new energy into the organization by replacing the CEOs of its key subsidiaries, including LG Electronics and LG Chem. The group also expressed its commitment to strengthening future growth engines by placing field-oriented personnel at the forefront and actively promoting talent in research and development (R&D).
Employees are heading to work at the LG Group headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung
On November 27, LG Group held board meetings for each subsidiary and carried out its regular executive appointments for 2026.
LG Electronics appointed Ryu Jaecheol, Head of the Home Solutions Business Division (President), as its new CEO, while LG Chem named Kim Dongchun, Head of the Advanced Materials Business Division (President), as its new CEO. Kim Dongchun was promoted to president and CEO just one year after becoming executive vice president and will continue to concurrently serve as Head of the Advanced Materials Business Division. The Home Solutions Business Division, previously led by Ryu Jaecheol, will now be headed by Baek Seungtae, Executive Vice President and Head of the Kitchen Solutions Business Division. D&O will welcome Lee Jaewoong, Executive Vice President and Head of the Legal Group at LG Electronics, as its new CEO.
All of the recently appointed CEOs born in the 1970s-including Lee Sunjoo, who became CEO of LG Household & Health Care through a one-point personnel change last month, Moon Hyuksu of LG Innotek, and Lee Jaewoong of D&O-represent a new generation of leadership. LG stated, "We plan to operate our personnel system flexibly by making changes as needed to accelerate transformation and innovation. We will continue to strengthen our global competitiveness by promoting talent focused on future technologies."
LG also promoted key figures leading the group’s business portfolio transformation in electronic components, materials, HVAC, and automotive parts to president, signaling a strong commitment to new growth businesses. The four major figures are Moon Hyuksu, CEO of LG Innotek (President); Kim Dongchun, CEO and Head of the Advanced Materials Business Division at LG Chem (President); Lee Jaesung, Head of the ES Business Division at LG Electronics (President); and Eun Seokhyun, Head of the VS Business Division at LG Electronics (President).
The group continued its strategy of strategically promoting R&D talent, including in the ABC (AI, Bio, Cleantech) fields, which are seen as future growth engines. Over the past five years, more than 25% of LG’s newly appointed executives have come from R&D fields, including ABC. This year, talent in ABC fields accounted for 21% of all promotions, underscoring LG’s focus on securing future technological competitiveness and a foundation for sustainable growth.
Notably, the youngest executives promoted this year-executive vice president, senior vice president, and vice president-are all experts in artificial intelligence (AI), strengthening technology-driven young leadership. The three prominent figures are Kim Taehun, Executive Vice President and Head of the AI Cloud Business Division at LG CNS (born 1975); Lim Woohyeong, Senior Vice President and Co-Director of LG AI Research (born 1978); and Cho Heonhyuk, Vice President in charge of the Cloud Data Center Business at LG CNS (born 1986). Cho Heonhyuk also set a new record as the youngest executive this year.
LG maintained its performance-based approach of promoting talent based on professional competence and future growth potential, regardless of age or gender. In this round of appointments, Myunghee Yeo, Senior Vice President of LG Uplus and the group’s first-ever female Chief Financial Officer (CFO), was promoted to executive vice president.
Three new female executives were appointed in the areas of business, marketing, and human resources, and three vice presidents born in the 1980s were also selected.
An LG representative stated, "This round of appointments reflects the management philosophy of Koo Kwangmo, CEO of LG Corporation, who emphasizes sustainable growth, change, and accelerating innovation for the future. We have carried out a generational shift in leadership for our core businesses. With presidents who have extensive field experience at the center, we will strengthen our drive for new growth businesses and focus on promoting R&D talent in areas such as ABC."
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