Hana Card chief's term extended on solid corporate management

By Lee Min-hyung

Hana Card CEO Kwon Gil-joo

Hana Financial Group has decided to extend the term of Hana Card CEO Kwon Gil-joo for another year based on his solid corporate management.

Kwon took office as the leader of Hana's card affiliate last April. He is recognized for driving its outstanding earnings growth. In 2021, the company generated a net profit of 250.5 billion won, up 62.2 percent from the previous year.

The financial holding firm also spoke highly of Kwon's stable corporate management by enhancing communication with employees and improving corporate culture.

When he was promoted to lead the company last year, his first scheduled event was to visit a customer service center where he encouraged employees and pledged to expand support for them.

He has since stressed the importance of going back to basics by urging employees to have a customer-oriented mindset.

Kwon is a finance expert with more than 35 years of experience in the industry after joining Korea Exchange Bank in 1985. After the bank merged with Hana Bank in 2015, he has held key posts at Hana Financial Group, Hana Bank and Hana Card. His previous career includes vice president of Hana Bank's information and communication technology group and vice president of Hana Financial Group.

Kwon also worked for what was then called Hana SK Card, playing a pivotal role in developing the company into one of the nation's major card companies.