SEOUL, South Korea—Kumho Tire Co. Inc. has promoted 25-plus-year company veteran Han-Seob Lee as its CEO, succeeding Chang-Kyu Kim.
Lee, 61, most recently was chief sales officer, overseeing global sales efforts.
Kumho did not elaborate on the reasons for the change or on Kim's future. The 38-year Kumho Group veteran was appointed president and CEO in February 2012. During his early career at Kumho Tire, Lee held various positions in the tire maker's European operation and, according to Kumho, is regarded as an expert in the European tire market.
He was operation manager in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s, Kumho said, and later was general manager for the Italian market.
Lee also held several positions in the company's Korean headquarters before returning to Europe in 2005 as president of Kumho Tire Europe.