Hankook Tire Appoints New Global CEO

Hankook Tire has announced the appointment of the company’s current President and COO of Hankook Tire Europe, Mr. Seung Hwa Suh, to the position of Global CEO. Mr. Suh, the person Hankook accredits as the driving force behind its new production facility in Hungary, officially took on his new role on March 5.

Mr. Suh joined Hankook in 1996 as a director for overseas marketing, and after serving in a number of senior roles was appointed president and COO of Hankook Tire Europe in 2006. Mr. Suh studied Politics and International Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

The incumbent CEO, Mr. Cho Choon Hwan, moves to the position of vice chairman after serving nearly a decade as CEO. During his time in the role he oversaw a period of growth for the company, and he leaves the post following the company’s posting of a healthy profit margin of 8.4 per cent in 2006.

Mr. Cho joined Hankook Tire in 1983 as a managing director before his appointment as CEO in 1997. He previously worked for Samsung Corporation where he was named a director in 1979. In past times Mr. Cho has also served as president of the Korea Tire Manufacturers Association currently he is the chairman of the Korea-Denmark Economic Cooperation Committee. Mr. Cho studied Law at Seoul National University.