Key Executives | Samsung Biologics | Samsung Biologics | The Leading Global CDMO with End-to-End Services

John Rim

President & CEO

John Rim is President & CEO at Samsung Biologics.

Prior to joining Samsung Biologics in 2018, Mr. Rim worked for Genentech/Roche in a variety of senior global leadership roles across Technical Operations, Product development, and Research and Development in both the US and Europe.

Mr. Rim has also held senior leadership roles at Astellas Pharmaceuticals in General Management, Sales & Marketing, Technical Operations, Customer Service, Business Development, and Strategic Planning.

Mr. Rim has over 30 years’ experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and began his career as a management consultant with Booz, Allen & Hamilton consulting to pharmaceutical companies in the US and Europe.

Mr. Rim holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, a master’s degree from Stanford University, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

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Kevin Sharp

Executive Vice President

Kevin Sharp is Executive Vice President and Head of Sales & Operations Department.

Mr. Sharp holds over 24 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industry.

Prior to joining Samsung Biologics in 2017, Mr Sharp developed expertise in sales, business development and procurement at global pharmaceutical companies such as GSK and Contract Pharmaceutical Corp.
Mr. Sharp holds an MBA from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
James Choi

Executive Vice President

James Choi is Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sales Support, Project Management, and Global Public Affairs.

Mr. Choi has over 35 years of senior leadership experience in the healthcare and informatics industries in various roles including customer service, operations, information technology, and security.

Prior to joining Samsung Biologics in 2014, Mr. Choi was CIO at Beckman Coulter's Clinical Diagnostics and Life Sciences businesses, CIO and CTO at Altegrity, and Senior Director of Information Systems, Customer Services eBusiness Technology, and Site Planning at Philips Healthcare.

Mr. Choi holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California Irvine and an MBA from the University of Southern California.

Pierre Catignol

Executive Vice President

Pierre Catignol is Executive Vice President and Head of Operation Center.

Mr. Catignol has over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industry.

Prior to joining Samsung Biologics, Mr. Catignol began his career at Sanofi-Pasteur in 1995, and extended his career in StALLERGENES AND VIRBAC as Head of Operations & Supply site and Operations & Quality respectively.

His recent leadership role was at Lonza as Head of Portsmouth site.

Mr. Catignol holds a master's degree for General Engineering at ECAM university.
Kun Lo, Ph.D.

Executive Vice President

Kun Lo is Executive Vice President, Head of EPCV Center responsible for construction and operation of new plants, and CSO (Chief Safety Officer).

Prior to joining Samsung Biologics in 2020, Dr. Lo held various management positions in Engineering and New Business.

Dr. Lo began his career with Samsung General Chemicals in 1992, then developed chemical products and managed manufacturing for 18 years in Samsung Total Petrochemical. In 2013, Dr. Lo advanced through Engineering expertise as a manager of Engineering Support Team and Process Design in Samsung Engineering.

Dr. Lo assumed responsibilities for planning global business as a New Business Team Leader and Head of US corporation in Samsung Engineering.

Dr. Lo holds a doctor’s degree from Seoul National University in Chemical Engineering.
Diane Black, Ph.D.

Executive Vice President & CQO

Diane Black is Executive Vice President and CQO (Chief Quality Officer).

Dr. Black has over 30 years of experience in Quality and related functions in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Prior to joining Samsung Biologics, Dr. Black began her career at Davy McKee and went on to serve as Global Head of Quality at CSL Behring, followed by roles at Merck Inc, Bristol-Meyers Squibb and Janssen.

Her most recent leadership role was at Jazz Pharmaceuticals as Chief Quality Officer.

Dr. Black holds a Ph.D. from University of Sydney in Biochemical Engineering.

Hosung Min, Ph.D.

Executive Vice President

Hosung Min is Executive Vice President and Head of CDO Development Center. Dr. Min serves concurrently as Head of Bio R&D Center.

Dr. Min has a background in antibody drug development at Amgen, a leading global pharmaceutical company. His experience also includes leadership roles in process development and Drug Substance (DS) manufacturing of biosimilar products at Samsung Bioepis.

Dr. Min received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from UCLA and BA in Molecular Biology from UC Berkeley.
Seungho Ryu

Executive Vice President & CFO

Seung Ho Ryu is Executive Vice President and Head of the Business Support Center.

Mr Ryu began his career at Samsung Electronics and brings over 25 years business management experience, having held multiple roles across various Samsung divisions including Samsung Electronics France (SEF) and Samsung Headquarters.
Kyuho Lee

Executive Vice President & CHRO

Kyuho Lee is Executive Vice President, Head of People Center, and CHRO (Chief Human Resource Officer).

Mr. Lee has carried out HR management tasks for 31 years.

Prior to joining Samsung Biologics, Mr. Lee managed HR support, global HR operations and labor relations at Samsung Electronics, where he also served as HR Team Lead of the VD business division.

Dongjoong Kim

Executive Vice President

Dongjoong Kim is Executive Vice President and Head of Co-Prosperity Cooperation Center.

Prior to joining Samsung Biologics in 2014, Mr. Kim held various corporate planning and managerial leadership positions for Samsung Electronics.

Mr. Kim began his career with Samsung in 1988 and served as head of Corporate Management and Administration of Samsung Electronics from 2002 to 2014.
Heejeong Kim

Vice President

Heejeong Kim is Vice President and Head of Drug Substance Department.

Ms. Kim joined Samsung Biologics in 2011, and has since served as both a team leader at a manufacturing plant and in operations support for drug substance production. She now oversees the entire drug substance area.

Ms. Kim received her master’s degree in Food Science and Biotechnology from Seoul National University in 2006.
Sangmyung Lee

Vice President

Sangmyung Lee is Vice President and Head of Business Strategy.

After joining Samsung Life Insurance in 2003, Mr. Lee held various management support roles across finance, project management and mid-to long-term strategy within Samsung Bioepis and Samsung Electronics.

Mr. Lee joined Samsung Biologics in 2023 and is now contributing to the design and execution of the company's business strategy.

Jaesun Lee

Vice President

Jaesun Lee is Vice President and Head of Operational Excellence Department.

Mr. Lee started his career at Samsung Electronics' semiconductor division in 1989. He subsequently led the systemization and automation of new production lines at Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display.

Mr. Lee joined Samsung Biologics in 2023 and is currently contributing to digital transformation efforts, drawing on his experience in manufacturing execution systems (MES).
Yeowan Youn

Vice President

Yeowan Youn is Vice President and Head of Legal Compliance Team.

Prior to joining Samsung Biologics in 2024, Mr. Youn was at Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Samsung Electronics, and Samsung Electronics America.

Mr. Youn obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University.
Heekyun Lim

Vice President

Heekyun Lim is Vice President and Head of Business Consulting Team.

Mr. Lim has over 20 years of experience with extensive expertise in strategic management and bioresearch at Samsung Electronics.

Mr. Lim holds a master’s degree in Life Sciences from Pohang University of Science and Technology.