By Kim Jae-won
Hana Bank CEO Kim Jung-tae, who is widely expected to become the chairman of Hana Financial Group next month, is often referred to by industry people as the ``god of sales.’’
In an industry full of over-trained financial experts and former bureaucrats, Kim is a rare figure that managed to shoot up the corporate hierarchy based on his reputation as a sales expert. He is known for his massive social circle, a product of his wealth of experience in retail banking and has long been a favorite of journalists for his humor and colorful quotes.
Through his 30 years in banking, Kim has held a variety of posts with Hana Bank, heading the bank’s household and retail business before being promoted to CEO. However, there are some observers who believe that Kim’s lack of experience in handling overall group strategy and international business could potentially be a source of trouble.
If one thing is certain, he has the ability to make people like him. One Hana executive, who didn’t want to be named, joked that Kim will manage to persuade almost everyone that they have met before.
``Kim remembers all of the names of employees and calls them by their names. It is an amazing ability,” said Park Jae-ho, a Hana Bank executive vice president.
He also brands himself as a family man. During a seminar with reporters in the late 2009, Kim pulled out a small pack of nuts from his pocket just to talk about his wife.
``My wife packed this for me. She takes care of my health,” said a boastful Kim.
His regional background and his personal relationship with presidential hopeful Moon Jae-in also attract attention. Kim attended Kyungnam High School in South Gyeongsang Province with Moon in the 1970s. Kim has yet to say he knows Moon personally, although Hana apparently wouldn’t mind Moon becoming president, considering Cheong Wa Dae’s traditionally strong influence over banking groups.
Kim introduced “fun management” to Hana by changing official ceremonies into party-style events. He exchanged high fives with employees and opened his office to employees letting them share their concerns with him.
“Kim changed the office culture by opening himself to employees. His approach gained popularity among young employees,” said an official of Hana.
Analysts say this approach is fresh in the nation’s finance industry, notorious for an authoritative and conservative office culture. Confucian norms of obeying bosses and elders are still vibrant in the industry suppressing creative ideas coming from free and equal discussions.
Employees responded with good performances under Kim’s open-minded leadership. Hana Bank marked a record high net profit last year of 1.2 trillion won ($1.1 billion), up 200 billion won, or 20 percent from the previous year.