By Lee Sun-kyo
Jung Byung-kook, 54, has been appointed as the new president of 3M Korea, the company said May 30.
With nomination taking effect June 1, Jung, a former director of industrial and transportation busisiness at the corporation, became the first Korean national to assume the top regional post of 3M in 34 years, the firm said in a news release.
“This reflects 3M’s global management strategy to appoint local figures who better understand regional markets and customers as regional head,” the release said.
Jung served as chief of the electronics division since he joined the firm in 1984. He also served as chief executive officer of electronics-related Ablestik Korea and chief of the Afredo in Singapore from 1999 to 2006. He majored in material engineering at Inha University.
“Jung has been recognized for his contribution to expanding the corporation based on his high understanding of the local market of electronics, automobiles and renewable energy and customer-oriented mindset,” said Karen Lee.
Outgoing CEO Frank Little has been transferred to the post of vice presidency and general manager in charge of the occupational health and environment safety division (OHESD) at 3M’s headquarters in Maplewood, Minn., effective from the same day.
3M is an American multinational conglomerate which produces industrial and mining products, including adhesives and abrasives. Worth $27 billion in 2010, 3M employs 80,000 workers in operations throughout 65 nations around the world.
The writer is an intern at The Korea Times