Seoul: SK Group announced Thursday the appointment of 85 new executives in its latest personnel reshuffle, with a strategic emphasis on bringing in younger leaders to navigate the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) industry. The South Korean conglomerate, which includes major subsidiaries like SK hynix Inc. and SK Telecom Co., revealed a slight increase in new executive appointments from 75 last year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, industry insiders noted a reduction of approximately 10 percent in the total number of executives within SK Group despite the new appointments. Of the newly appointed executives, 17 were born in the 1980s, marking a generational shift with the average age of the new appointees dropping to 48.8 from last year's 49.4. Ahn Hong-beom, born in 1983, is the youngest among them and is leading SK Telecom's AI and digital transformation initiatives.
The group also highlighted that six out of the eight newly appointed female executives were born in the 1980s, underscoring a focus on younger leadership. In its pursuit to bolster SK Group's AI readiness, SK hynix has initiated regional research centers, while SK Innovation Co. has formed a new AI unit reporting directly to its CEO.
SK hynix has outlined plans to open AI research centers in key locations such as the United States, China, and Japan to accelerate its industry research and strengthen collaborations with global tech giants. Additionally, the chipmaker is set to establish the Global Infra division to expedite the construction of a packaging fabrication facility in Indiana, aiming to meet the increasing global demand for AI memory solutions.
The company also announced the launch of the Macro Research Center, which will deliver comprehensive analyses of the global business landscape and geopolitical dynamics to inform strategies in the AI and semiconductor sectors. "We plan to accelerate real changes by strengthening on-site execution capabilities, improving efficiency, and fostering next-generation leaders," SK Group stated in a release.