Hankook appoints new COO for European market

ERJ staff report (RPN)

Neu-Isenburg, Germany − Hankook Tire appointed Ho-Youl Pae to chief operation officer (COO) and head of its European business unit, reported Rubber & Plastics News.

Pae, 55, has been with the company since 1986 and has more than 28 years of industry experience, including managing sales operations for 15 years at Hankook Tire regional offices in Germany, Belgium and the US, as well as more than seven years at top management positions, Hankook said.

He spent the last two years serving as senior vice president for Hankook's marketing strategy planning division. During his tenure at Hankook Germany and the European headquarters in 1989-96, Pae accumulated understanding and knowledge about the European automotive market and contributed greatly to the company's business growth in the region, Hankook said.

He also played a role in driving Hankook's brand equity in the American region through various marketing efforts and activities as a marketing team manager and chief operating officer at Hankook Tire America.

He replaces Jin-Wook Choi, who has taken over an advisory role at the company's global headquarters. Among Choi's accomplishments during his tenure in Europe was overseeing expansion of Hankook's tire plant in Hungary.