SK Group reshuffles executives, names Jeong Seung-il as new SK Innovation CEO

SK Group is carrying out an executive reshuffle built on the principle of "stability with renewal." With no vice chairman promotions, Jeong Seung-il, a president at SK, has been named the new CEO and president of SK Innovation. SK retained Jang Yong-ho as representative director. The reshuffle is expected to position the group to actively respond to global uncertainty while laying the groundwork for sustainable growth.

SK Group held an extraordinary Supex Council meeting Friday morning and announced that the personnel decisions had been finalized through the board of directors. The group said it secured management stability by retaining the CEOs of major affiliates while also bringing in proven, hands-on leaders for new roles.

As a result of the reshuffle, Chey Chang-won, chairman of the SK Supex Council and vice chairman of SK Group, will continue to lead the Supex Council next year. Chey was appointed Supex Council chairman in the year-end reshuffle of 2023 and has since led the group's rebalancing — a restructuring of its business portfolio. Chey is expected to continue driving that rebalancing effort next year to improve the group's overall competitiveness.

Jeong, the newly appointed CEO of SK Innovation, is set to address external risks including a global economic slowdown and volatility in energy markets, while strengthening the core competitiveness of the group's main businesses and accelerating new ventures. At SK, Jang was retained as representative director, while Kim Seon-hyeok, head of strategy at SKC and a portfolio management specialist, was promoted and appointed as a responsible president.

Kang Dong-su, who has overseen overall operations at SK, has been tapped as co-representative director of SK Innovation and representative director of SK Energy. Kang plans to generate solid cash flow from existing businesses and channel it into investment in future ventures, reinforcing a virtuous cycle. Kim Won-gi, who has led the SK Enmove CIC, will concurrently serve as CEO of SK Geocentric, an SK Innovation subsidiary.

SK hynix also moved to place proven, hands-on talent in key roles. Yoon Pung-young, who served as a Supex Council representative and head of SK hynix's Global Growth TF, was named president of the Corporate Center. Yoon is expected to contribute to expanding global business and identifying new growth engines.

Ahn Hyun, president for development, will take charge of a newly established Americas division — a president-level organization to be set up in the United States. Ahn will build a structure centered on local big-tech customers and lead efforts to strengthen technology leadership and R&D capabilities. Cha Seon-yong, widely regarded as a leading expert in SK hynix's advanced technology fields and currently head of the Future Technology Research Institute, has been appointed to lead overall development.

SK Discovery has tapped Yoon Byeong-seok, president of SK Gas, as its new representative director. Yoon will lead the task of mapping out SK Discovery's mid- to long-term growth strategy. Song Gyeong-yeol, head of the strategy division at SK Gas, has been promoted and named as the new SK Gas representative director.

The Supex Council also moved next-generation, hands-on leaders to the front lines. Kwon Young-su, head of the strategy division at SK Innovation, was promoted to Supex Council president. Kwon is expected to strengthen synergies among affiliates and carry out the group's future-readiness agenda.

SK Group also moved to strengthen overseas business leadership in response to uncertainty in global markets. Building on existing operations in the Americas, China and Japan, the group created a new Southeast Asia division — a region it sees as having high growth potential — and appointed Chu Hyeong-uk as its head. The group aims to accelerate local R&D and commercialization in key business areas including AI, eco-friendly technologies and advanced materials, with the goal of securing top-tier global competitiveness.

"This reshuffle is aimed at strengthening our core competitiveness amid an uncertain business environment and creating a new springboard for growth through preemptive business restructuring and technological innovation," an SK Group official said. "We will move quickly to improve the group's qualitative growth and enhance corporate value."