Kim named Janssen Korea CEO

Janssen Korea became the first multinational medical firm in the country to name a woman CEO, the company said in a statement Thursday.

The Korean branch of multinational firm Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. said that Kim Oak-yeon, 44, has accumulated rich experience as the former CEO of Janssen Malaysia, and is expected to become an even larger asset to the company.

“I will make the best of my experience from working overseas so that Janssen Korea can take a step further in the fast-changing Korean pharmaceutical industry,” the new CEO said.

Kim was also named the regional head of Northeast Asian operations including Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong at the same time, the company said.

Throughout her 20 years of working for Janssen’s European and Asian branches, Kim has shown great devotion and leadership that led to the multinational company’s sales expansion, the company said.

After graduating from Seoul National University with a degree in medicine, Kim began her career at Janssen Korea in 1992.

Having held a leadership position in Janssen Asia-Pacific since 2004, Kim was appointed the CEO of Janssen Malaysia from 2007 to 2010, and then worked as the head of Janssen China GM sector from 2010 until the present.

By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)