Nike Korea has new CEO

Song Wook-hwan

By Lee Hyo-sik

Nike Korea has appointed Song Wook-hwan, who has worked at the world’s largest sportswear maker for more than 17 years, as CEO.

He is the first Korean national to head Nike’s Korean unit since 1994 when former CEO Ha Yoon-do retired. Over the past 11 years, non-Koreans were in charge of the firm’s operations in Korea.

Song began his career at Nike Korea in 1994 and served in sales, strategy planning, logistics and management. He also worked in China and other Asian countries for several years.

He then went to Harvard Business School in 1999 and earned an MBA two years later. Song then started working as an associate at global consulting firm McKinsey & Company for two years, before returning to Nike in 2003.

Before being appointed to Nike Korea CEO, he headed the firm’s operations in Northern China for three years. Song was credited with Nike’s soaring sales in the region, which reached $4 billion in 2014. He also played a big role in improving Nike’s brand image among Chinese consumers.

“I am honored and also feel a huge responsibility to head Nike’s business in Korea, which has been attracting keen attention from headquarters,” Song said. “Making the best use of my knowledge and know-how I have accumulated over the years, I will continue to write Nike’s success story in the country.”