GS Group Announces 2026 Executive Appointments... Owners Huh Yongsoo and Huh Sehong Promoted to Vice Chairmen

Chairman Huh Taesu: "Leaders Who Execute Innovation, Not Convention"
Strengthening Accountability to Overcome Energy and Refining Industry Crises
More CEOs Born in the 1970s and Increased Appointment of Field-Oriented Talent

GS Group has conducted its regular executive appointments for 2026. The group announced that it has strengthened its organizational structure by appointing leaders with "innovative execution capabilities," moving away from conventional decision-making practices amid rapidly changing business conditions.

On the 26th, GS Group revealed that it had appointed a total of 38 executives, including 2 vice chairmen, 9 CEOs (including those promoted to president and executive vice president), 2 presidents, 4 executive vice presidents, 5 senior managing directors, 18 managing directors, and 1 reassignment. The appointments will be finalized after the respective boards of directors of each affiliate. Chairman Huh Taesu stated, "There is no place for those who rely on convention in the face of massive changes in the business environment," adding, "These appointments assign responsibility for continuous business innovation and bold challenges."

Huh Yongsoo, President of GS Energy, and Huh Sehong, President of GS Caltex, have been promoted to vice chairmen, thereby strengthening the group’s leadership in its core businesses of energy and refining. GS explained that this move is intended to reinforce accountability for overcoming crises during the restructuring of the energy industry. As a result, a three-vice chairman system has been established, including Hong Soonki, Vice Chairman of GS Corp., who was appointed last year.

Vice Chairman Huh Yongsoo has previously served as CEO of GS EPS and GS Energy, where he led the expansion of the business portfolio into power generation, district heating, LNG, and resource development. He has overseen projects such as the acquisition of Withincheon Energy, the launch of GS Chargebee, investment in the Northeast Asia LNG Hub Terminal, and the Vietnam LNG combined cycle power project, laying the foundation for growth in response to the energy transition era. More recently, he has been working to secure a global supply chain for hydrogen and ammonia in collaboration with the UAE’s state-owned oil company.

Huh Sehong has served as head of GS Caltex’s Singapore branch, production planning plant manager, and head of the petrochemicals and lubricants business divisions, gaining experience across the entire refining and petrochemical value chain. As CEO of GS Global and later GS Caltex, he has driven organizational innovation focused on improving the refining and petrochemical business structure and enhancing operational efficiency, thereby boosting competitiveness.

Coinciding with the appointment of the two vice chairmen, a significant number of younger CEOs born in or around the 1970s have been appointed to major affiliates. These include Kim Sungwon, CEO of GS Global; Huh Cheolhong, CEO of GS Entec; Hwang Byungso, CEO of GS E&R; Park Minsu, CEO of GS P&L; and Kim Uksu, CEO of Xi C&A, who were either newly appointed or promoted. Additionally, new CEOs were appointed at nine affiliates, including GS Donghae Power, GS Pocheon Green Energy, GS Networks, and Boryeong LNG Terminal, reflecting an overall horizontal generational shift.

GS Caltex Gunsan Plant. GS Caltex

This round of appointments also included a broad forward deployment of key personnel from the holding company to on-site subsidiaries. Executives from headquarters, such as GS Energy, GS Retail, GS Global, and GS Engineering & Construction, have been reassigned to Boryeong LNG Terminal, GS Networks, GS Entec, and Xi C&A. GS stated that this reflects its personnel philosophy of narrowing the gap between headquarters and the field and enhancing business execution. This is also in line with GS’s recent emphasis on a field-oriented decision-making structure.

The group’s focus on field experience was also clearly evident. Many experts with comprehensive understanding across the refining, petrochemical, power generation, and construction value chains were promoted, establishing a structure that supports stable operations even in times of crisis. Kim Sungmin, President of GS Caltex, is a field-oriented leader who has worked extensively across production, operations, and safety management at the Yeosu plant, and will now be responsible for next-generation production systems that integrate digital, safety, and green transitions. Kim Wansu, Executive Vice President of GS Engineering & Construction, is an expert who has accumulated experience in process, cost, and safety management at construction and housing sites.

Personnel dedicated to expanding new businesses also stand out. Huh Jinhong, Executive Vice President and Head of Investment & Development at GS Engineering & Construction, and Huh Taehong, Senior Managing Director leading GS Futures, a North American advanced technology venture investment platform, were promoted with the goal of strengthening the future business portfolio.

A GS official stated, "This round of appointments is more than a simple reshuffling; it is a structural reorganization that encapsulates the group’s direction of business innovation, new business development, and strengthening on-site execution capabilities," adding, "With the reinforcement of young leadership and a field-oriented management system, this will serve as a catalyst for accelerating the pace of change."

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