Kim Sang-hyun, Lotte CEO: "Actively Supporting New Changes... Customer-Centricity Is the Core Value"

Greeting Employees via Intranet Before Term Start
"Will Organize Team and Share Strategy and Vision Soon"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Kim Sang-hyun, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (Vice Chairman, photo) responsible for Lotte Group's distribution business division, promised employees that he will be a communicative leader by presenting the value of 'customer-centricity' as the core management philosophy.

On the afternoon of the 13th, Kim shared a letter on Lotte's internal network, stating, "Leadership that serves all employees who are in direct contact with customers is the starting point of customer-centricity." He added, "We must all strive to quickly identify and execute what customers want and continuously present a better lifestyle for customers to transform into a customer-centric organization."

Kim, who previously served as CEO of Korea P&G, President of Southeast Asia, Vice Chairman of Homeplus, and CEO of DFI Singapore & Hong Kong subsidiaries, was recruited last month as a 'relief pitcher' to take charge of Lotte's struggling distribution business in the recent executive reshuffle. This is the first time an external candidate has been appointed as the head of Lotte's distribution business. Kim's official term begins in February next year.

Kim said, "Since there have been significant changes within the organization in this executive reshuffle, I believe there are high expectations as well as concerns about future changes." He added, "Since the personnel announcement, I have been continuously communicating through video conferences with key executives of the group and representatives of distribution affiliates." He also explained, "Last week, I briefly visited Korea to understand Lotte Group and the overall domestic distribution industry. I am making efforts to share the organizational structure, strategy, and vision as soon as possible."

Kim's message is interpreted as an attempt to reassure employees who may be unsettled by the recent rapid personnel changes.

He said, "I believe there is a desire for new changes and innovation among you. I want to be a leader who supports and communicates so that you can fully demonstrate your capabilities and achieve new changes."

He also emphasized that Lotte's strengths will be maximized and shortcomings will be quickly improved. Kim added, "We will further strengthen what we have done well so far, and swiftly execute what we know how to do but have not yet implemented. We will focus our capabilities and resources on finding solutions and boldly discard unnecessary formalities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.