Choi Eun-seok appointed as CEO of CJ Corp.

By Kim Hyun-bin

Choi Eun-seok, head of CJ Corp's management strategy office, has been promoted to CEO.

Choi, 53, has been the point man for strategy and finance within CJ Group. He was in charge of the group's partnership deal with Naver and CJ CheilJedang's acquisition of the U.S. frozen food company Schwan's.

Choi Eun-seok, newly appointed CEO at CJ Corp.

The move comes as CJ Group changed CEOs of its key affiliates and promoted 78 executives in its year-end reshuffle, Thursday, as part of a generational shift to fill leadership roles with younger rising stars.

Other appointments include Kang Sin-ho, CJ CheilJedang's current CEO, who has been transferred to head CJ Logistics Corp. The entertainment branch of CJ ENM selected Kang Ho-seong, head of management support at CJ Corp.

“We have appointed CEOs that can manage crisis and prepare for the future at a time when there have been drastic changes in the business environment because of COVID-19,” CJ Group said.

Director-level appointments doubled from last year, accounting for 38 promotions, including several people born after the 1980s. Eight female executives have been appointed, taking up 21 percent of the total pool ― the most in the company's history.

“Through the new management, we plan to prepare for the post COVID-19 and the new-normal era to enhance our global survivability capabilities in 2021,” CJ Group said