POSCO Group Executive Personnel Changes... Kim Ji-yong Promoted to President of Future Technology Research Institute

Reallocation of Human Resources Within the Group
Recruitment of External Talent in New Growth Areas

Kim Ji-yong, head of POSCO Holdings Future Technology Research Institute, has been promoted to president. Cheon Si-yeol, deputy head in charge of process quality at Pohang Steelworks, was promoted and appointed as the head of Pohang Steelworks, while Lee Dong-ryeol, president of POSCO M-TECH, was promoted and transferred to head the Gwangyang Steelworks.

Major group company president appointments and executive appointments at the holding company POSCO Holdings are expected to be implemented later, as the group is preparing for the chairman appointment process.

Jiyong Kim, Head of Future Technology Research Institute, POSCO Holdings

POSCO Group announced its regular executive appointments for 2024 on the 20th. The group explained that this personnel reshuffle focuses on reallocating human resources appropriately in line with the mid- to long-term growth strategy of the seven core businesses and promoting innovation.

Kim Ji-yong, who will lead POSCO Group’s research and development (R&D) strategy and technology development, has served as head of POSCO Safety and Environment Headquarters, head of Gwangyang Steelworks, head of overseas subsidiaries (Indonesia), head of the New Materials Business Office, and head of the Automotive Steel Export Office. Currently, as the group’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), he oversees core technology R&D in secondary battery materials, artificial intelligence (AI), and hydrogen sectors.

POSCO appointed steel experts to strengthen the phased transition to a carbon-neutral production system and enhance Green Steel solutions. Cheon Si-yeol, the new head of Pohang Steelworks, has held positions such as head of Production Technology Strategy Office, head of Plating Department, and head of Cold Rolling Department. Lee Dong-ryeol, the new head of Gwangyang Steelworks, previously served as deputy head in charge of billet at Gwangyang Steelworks, head of Steelmaking Department, and head of Steelmaking Department at PT.KRAKATAU POSCO (Indonesia).

The former heads, Lee Baek-hee of Pohang Steelworks and Lee Jin-su of Gwangyang Steelworks, were appointed as head of Safety and Environment Headquarters and head of Production Technology Headquarters, respectively.

Kim Ki-soo, head of the Process Research Institute, has been appointed as the head of the Technology Research Institute. The HyREX (Hydrogen Reduction Steelmaking) Promotion Task Force team, which was responsible for hydrogen reduction steelmaking within the Technology Research Institute, has been upgraded to a formal Promotion Division, with Bae Jin-chan, head of the Billet Technology Group, appointed as the division head.

In the secondary battery materials sector, business-oriented talents with expertise and technical skills were advanced. Um Ki-chun, head of POSCO Marketing Strategy Office, was promoted to vice president and moved to head the Energy Materials Business Division at POSCO Future M. With diverse experience including head of Steel Planning Office, head of overseas subsidiaries (Vietnam and China), and head of New Materials Business Office, he is considered the right person to lead the secondary battery materials business.

Additionally, to strengthen capabilities in new growth businesses such as secondary battery materials and hydrogen, key external talents were actively recruited. In the secondary battery materials business, Yoon Tae-il, executive director in charge of technology strategy at Samsung SDI, was appointed as executive director (senior vice president) of Technology Quality Strategy Office at POSCO Future M. Hong Young-jun, head of the Secondary Battery Materials Research Institute at POSCO Holdings Future Technology Research Institute, who was recruited from LG Chem, was promoted to vice president.

In the hydrogen and low-carbon sectors, Kim Yong-heon, head of the Technology Strategy Team at Korea National Oil Corporation and an expert in hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS), was newly hired as an executive-level research fellow at the Hydrogen and Low-Carbon Energy Research Institute of POSCO Holdings Future Technology Research Institute.

POSCO Group implemented a generational change through appointments of presidents at group companies including POSCO Flow, POSCO Steelion, POSCO Management Research Institute, POSCO Mobility Solutions, POSCO M-TECH, POSCO MC Materials, POSCO A&C, and POSCO HY Clean Metal, following the principle of meritocracy.

Yoon Yang-su, president of POSCO Steelion, was appointed to POSCO Flow, and Kim Bong-cheol, head of POSCO China Integrated Processing Center, was appointed to POSCO Steelion. Jeong Beom-su, head of POSCO Production Technology Strategy Office, was appointed as CEO of POSCO M-TECH; Seo Young-hyun, head of Basic Materials Business Division at POSCO Future M, was appointed as CEO of POSCO MC Materials; Kim Woo-gi, head of E&C Construction Business Office, was appointed as CEO of POSCO A&C; and Im Ji-woo, head of POSCO Smart Factory Planning Group, was appointed as CEO of POSCO HY Clean Metal. Park Hyun-sung, head of Steel Research Office, will act as interim head of POSCO Management Research Institute.

Lee Young-geol, head of Equipment Technology Department at Pohang Steelworks, and Seo Gwang-il, POSCO master craftsman, who significantly contributed to the recovery from flooding damage at Pohang Steelworks caused by Typhoon Hin Nam No last year, were promoted to executive and senior managing director, respectively.

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