BMW Korea nurturing global talents
BMW’s new electric vehicle, the i8, is displayed at the Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition at the KINTEX, a convention center in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. / Yonhap
By Park Si-soo
Han Sang-yun Head of sales
Lee Jae-joon Head of marketing
BMW Korea has elevated its status in the BMW Group with impressive sales records and introducing various innovative management methods. Korean talent has been the main growth engine for this success.
Based on its robust growth in the Korean market, it now seeks to nurture senior Korean workers as global talents.
The commitment is expected to make the company a role model for BMW’s other overseas units in terms of sales, marketing, after sales service and other customer services, officials said.
BMW Korea has already shown outstanding performance under the leadership of CEO Kim Hyo-joon. He made Korea the German carmaker’s eighth-largest market by sales last year.
In recognition, BMW opened its first driving circuit in Asia in Incheon, west of Seoul, in 2014. A year earlier, Kim was promoted to the position of BMW Group senior vice president.
The BMW Korea chief is currently looking for future leaders who can maintain the legacy and help power the growth of BMW Group.
The firm’s personnel reshuffle in April revealed a shortlist of candidates. In the reshuffle, Han Sang-yun was appointed as head of sales and Lee Jae-joon as head of marketing.
Graduating from the University of Technology, Sydney, Han joined BMW after gaining experience with Saab Korea and GM Korea, while Lee, a graduate of Sogang University in Seoul, joined BMW in 2002 after doing overseas sales for many years in the now-defunct Daewoo Motor.
“People I’m looking for are simple: global talents,” the BMW Korea CEO said during a media briefing in March. “I’m looking for those who can achieve the company’s sustainable growth under various circumstances. Those who can only perform within a narrow, specific environment will have a limited future.”
He noted BMW Group had renovated its human resource management system, under which a proven talent born in Korea can be promoted to CEO of BMW’s global headquarters in Germany.
“Korea’s future competitiveness lies in globalization,” Kim said. “I’m committed to contributing to this with the knowledge and experience I have.”
Meanwhile, BMW Korea, which posted over 40,000 in sales in 2014, expects double-digit growth year this year. Experts say the popularity of BMW here will last for the time being, citing the customer base that is expanding from corporate to individuals.
The demand for cars smaller than 2-liter engines is increasing, while SUV and diesels have gained more popularity, they said.
BMW remained Korea’s top-selling luxury brand for the sixth year in a row in 2014. It sold a total of 40,174 cars, while its rival Mercedes-Benz sold 35,213 cars. Its 2014 sales represent a 21.5 percent increase from the previous year.