New year heralds new LG Mid East President

Kim joins LGEMEA from Korea where he served as Vice President on the Overseas Marketing Task Team in LGE's Mobile Handset Division.

LGE CEO and Vice Chairman, Mr. S. S. Kim has appointed Shin President - Overseas Business for the company's Digital Appliance division based at LG headquarters in Korea.

"The past three years as President LG Electronics Middle East and Africa, have been interesting and challenging and I will look back on this time with a great deal of satisfaction," said Shin.

"LGE's vision is to become top national brand by the year 2005 and during my time here, sales have gone from US$821m in 2001 through the US$1 billion mark in 2002. Our brand awareness has gone from an average of 37 percent across the region in 2001 to reach 50 percent this year.

"These are phenomenal achievements for a brand as young as LG and I would like to thank the entire LG team, our regional partners and the media for making my three years here so successful and enjoyable."

Mr. K. H. Kim joins the LG Middle East and Africa Operations team with experience that includes 15 years in Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

"Mr. Kim understands the very diverse nature of this region," said Shin.

"Turkey falls under LGE's MEA operations and during his term in Istanbul, Mr. Kim had the opportunity to study this region very carefully and understand its market dynamics."

Shin added that amongst the first duties Mr. Kim would enjoy as President will be the issuing of LGE sales results for the region.

"LG Electronics has grown a great deal over the last three years and we have built a solid platform for the future. I am sure Mr. Kim will relish the challenge of taking LG Electronics to top national brand by 2005."

Kim commented that Mr. Shin had left an impressive legacy for him to continue and that whilst LGE has built an excellent name in the region in a short space of time, there is still work to be done.

"My immediate challenges are to continue development of emerging markets in the region, to cement our existing product leadership and add further leadership sectors, to increase unaided brand awareness throughout the region and raise our achievements in customer service indices," said Kim.

Addressing Mr. Shin, Kim added: "I will face a challenge in carrying on the invaluable work you have done in the past three years and I would like to take the opportunity to wish you every success in your new appointment.

"Judging by the results you have achieved here in the last three years, I am sure you will be just as successful back in Korea."