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Woork Bank CEO candidates Lee Seok-tae, left, and Cho Byung-kyu / Courtesy of Woori Financial Group |
By Anna J. Park
Woori Financial Group announced its shortlist of candidates for the head position of Woori Bank on Thursday afternoon.
According to the financial group, the group's executive recommendation committee named two candidates ― Lee Seok-tae, the bank's executive vice chief heading domestic business, and Cho Byung-kyu, Woori Financial Capital's incumbent CEO. The committee said that over the past two months it thoroughly evaluated four nominees who were in consideration for the post, including the two final candidates.
Lee Seok-tae was born in 1964, serving at various posts at Woori Bank over the decades, including as a bank branch head in one of the wealthiest districts in Seoul, head of the strategic planning department, executive director of new business and vice president of business growth. He's now executive vice chief leading domestic business since early this year.
Born in 1965, Cho Byung-kyu has been the CEO of Woori Financial Capital since March this year. He previously served as Woori Bank's compliance official, executive vice chief of management planning and executive vice chief of corporate group.
The leading position at the banking subsidiary of Woori Financial has been empty for nearly three months, following the resignation of former Woori Bank CEO Lee Won-duk on March 7. Lee tendered his resignation, about a month after the appointment of Yim Jong-ryong as the financial group's new chairman was confirmed in early February.
The financial group's executive recommendation committee plans to select the final candidate later this month, after it holds in-depth interviews with the two nominees. The committee will also hear the two finalists' business strategy presentations to assess their business acumen and judgment.