SK Geocentric CEO Replaced... SK Innovation Appoints Younger Executives to Key Positions

Kim to Serve as President of Both SK Energy and SK Geocentric
Expanding Synergy Through Integrated Refining and Petrochemical Operations
Average Age of New Executives Drops to 46.7, Marking a Generational Shift

SK Innovation has carried out its 2026 executive appointments and organizational restructuring, replacing the CEO of SK Geocentric. Kim Jonghwa, President of SK Energy, will concurrently serve as the CEO of SK Geocentric. SK Innovation explained that this is a strategic move to enhance competitiveness by integrating the refining and chemical value chains.

On December 4, SK Innovation announced that it had appointed President Kim as the new CEO of SK Geocentric through its executive appointments, and named 15 new executives for SK Innovation and its affiliates. This follows the CEO appointments conducted in October, with the selection of subsidiary CEOs. The former CEO of SK Geocentric, Choi Anseop, will step down from his position and remain as an advisor.

Kim Jonghwa, newly appointed President and CEO of SK Geocentric. SK Innovation

President Kim is an expert in refining and chemicals, with extensive experience in engineering, production, safety, health, environment (SHE), and the operation of the Ulsan Complex (Ulsan CLX). The company expects to expand synergy through integrated operations between the two businesses. He stated, "In the midst of a sluggish petrochemical market and structural changes, execution is crucial," adding that he will focus on strengthening business competitiveness based on operational innovation.

In this round of appointments, SK Innovation focused on strengthening its supply chain optimization capabilities to improve the efficiency of the refining and chemical value chains. The company also established a dedicated AI transformation team reporting directly to the CEO, both at SK Innovation and its subsidiaries, to expand data-driven decision-making across production, research and development, and organizational operations. Through these measures, the company aims to rapidly realize field-oriented digital transformation.

The future growth axis centered on electrification has also been reorganized. SK Innovation has restructured the Energy Solution Business Division and the Vietnam and Americas business development teams under the direct supervision of the CEO to strengthen the foundation for global business expansion. The Environmental Science and Technology Institute established an Energy Solution Research Center to enhance R&D capabilities in electrification technologies, and SK On has expanded its business beyond electric vehicle batteries to include energy storage systems (ESS). The company also reinforced its overseas customer response teams to address increasing demand, particularly in the Americas and Europe.

Organizational streamlining and generational change have also been implemented. Similar management functions within affiliates have been integrated to improve efficiency, and the average age of newly appointed executives has decreased by 1.5 years from the previous year to 46.7 years. A representative from SK Innovation stated, "While reducing the overall number of executives, we have placed young, field-oriented leaders at the forefront to strengthen execution."

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