Who will shine in biz circle in 2013?

Lee Don-joo Samsung Electronics president

With most firms completing year-end reshuffles, attention is now on who will lead their respective conglomerates to the top in Korea’s growing industries.

Electronics duopoly Samsung and LG Electronics and automobile giant Hyundai Group have the best outlook for the new year with the longest standing businesses among local players and have named what they see as next-generation stars as presidents.

The biggest cash-generator for Samsung is its mobile business, led by the stellar popularity of its Galaxy series phones. The firm is predicting it sold 40 million of its Galaxy SIII among 510 million handsets last year.

Its new appointments reflect the impetus it is trying to create for mobile phones as it became the world’s largest handset manufacturer last year, overtaking Finnish rival Nokia.

Hong Won-pyo Samsung Electronics president

Key executives Hong Won-pyo and Lee Don-joo were promoted within the firm’s mobile division to president to support its head Shin Jong-kyun,.

Hong was born in 1960 and worked for KT and U.S. company Bell Laboratories before joining Samsung in 2007. He is a renowned telecommunications expert and headed the company’s product design team for the past three years. He is set to strengthen the electronics maker’s mobile content and services

Born in 1956, Lee is a long-time Samsung employee. He joined the firm in 1981 after receiving his master’s degree at Columbia University in business management. His is known for his strategic marketing skills that drove the company’s phone business to beat out rivals to become the best selling Android phone in the world.

“Lee Don-joo is an expert in global sales of home appliances, IT and many other electronics areas. He has differentiated the marketing of the Galaxy series and innovative products have made Samsung’s handset and smartphone business the global No. 1,” the company said in a statement following his appointment. “Lee will contribute to Samsung remaining in control of the daily, increasingly competitive mobile market.”

Jo Seong-jin LG Electronics president

Korea’s largest conglomerate has elevated the two in the volatile mobile division for their passion and vision, according to industry observers.

Cross-town rival LG is also giving impetus to its strong divisions.

The biggest news was the appointment of Jo Seong-jin as president. He is a high-school graduate and his promotion symbolizes the group’s shedding of its traditional conservatism, as it is rare in Korea for someone without a college degree to reach such a level. He is a graduate of Yongsan Technical High School.

The 56-year-old will oversee the home appliance division of LG Electronics. He is known as an expert in washing machines, the product he has contributed to most since he joined the company in 1976. The firm stressed that his nomination was made on his merits.

Han Sang-beom LG Display CEO

He is known for making numerous overseas trips, especially to Japan, and studies of how to make the company’s products better.

LG Display CEO Han Sang-beom was also promoted to president for putting the company back in the black after eight straight quarters of losses.

Under his leadership, the display panel making arm of LG Group has expanded its business portfolio and supplies liquid crystal display (LCD) panels to global clients, most notably Apple.

He has 30 years of expertise in chips and displays and was the backbone of making LG the No. 1 3D LCD TV maker in the world in terms of market share.

Hyundai Group gained attention for appointing Kim Kyung-bae as president of Hyundai Glovis, the transportation arm of the conglomerate. He is the youngest Korean ever to hold a top post at 46, excluding group owners.

Kim Kyung-bae Hyundai Glovis president

Three years ago when he became the company’s youngest vice president. Glovis has grown three times during his tenure. Kim is known to be loyal and one the most trusted lieutenants of the Chong family who owns the group. <The Korea Times/Cho Mu-hyun>