Key Executives
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John RimPresident & 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 in Technical Operations, Product Development, and Research and Development in the US and Europe.
Mr. Rim has also held senior leadership roles with 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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Pierre CatignolExecutive 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. -
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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.
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Gail WardExecutive Vice President & CQO
Gail Ward is Executive Vice President and CQO (Chief Quality Officer).Prior to joining Samsung Biologics, Ms. Ward served as Vice President at Celltrion for 10 years from 2005 leading Quality & Quality Support. Her most recent leadership role was at ProKidney, a US-based biotech, as Head of Quality from 2016.
Ms. Ward is a leading expert of quality management with over 38 years of experience in various modalities such as biosimilar, cell therapy, and vaccine at global pharmaceutical companies including Biogen. -
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Hosung Min, Ph.D.Executive Vice President
Brian Hosung Min is Executive Vice President and Head of CDO Development Center. Dr. Min also serves concurrently as Head of Sales Center.Dr. Min has background in antibody drug development at Amgen, a global pharmaceutical company. His experience also includes leadership role of 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. -
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Namjin Chung, Ph.D.Executive Vice President & CSO
Namjin Chung is Executive Vice President and Head of Bio R&D Center.Prior to joining Samsung Biologics in 2022, Dr. Chung had 28 years of experience in drug discovery and development in diverse R&D settings.
Since 2000, Dr. Chung has worked at MIT, Merck, BMS, Abbvie, UCSF, and Vesalius.
Dr. Chung has experience in CRISPR genome editing, functional genetics, human genetics, high-throughput screening, viral and non-viral delivery, iPSC models, and platform development for computer biology.
Dr. Chung is an accomplished drug discovery project leader in areas of cancer, immunology, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, metabolic, and infectious diseases through more than 20 program launches and transitions.
Dr. Chung received his Ph.D. and Master’s Degree from Duke University, and Bachelor’s Degree from Korea University.
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Dongjoong KimExecutive Vice President & CFO
Dongjoong Kim is Executive Vice President and Managing Director in charge of the Business Support 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. Mr. Kim led the Corporate Management and Administration of Samsung Electronics from 2002 to 2014. -
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Kyuho LeeExecutive 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 tasks, global HR tasks, and labor-management tasks at Samsung Electronics, including working as the HR team leader of the VD business division. -
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Kevin SharpSenior Vice President & Head of NJ Sales Office
Kevin Sharp is Senior Vice President and Head of NJ Sales Office.Mr. Sharp holds over 24 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industry.
Prior to joining Samsung Biologics in 2017, Mr. Sharp worked in areas of 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.
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Sangwon SeoVice President
Sangwon Seo is Vice President and Head of Sales&Operation Department.Prior to joining Samsung Biologics in 2011, Mr. Seo was at Samsung Electronics.
Mr. Seo acquired a M.S. in Bioengineering from POSTECH. -
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James ChoiExecutive Vice President
James Choi is Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sales Support and Global Public Affairs.Mr. Choi has over 30 years of senior leadership experience in the healthcare and informatics industries in various roles including information technology and security, customer service, and operations.
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. -
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Heejeong KimVice President
Heejeong Kim is Vice President and Head of DS Department.Ms. Kim joined Samsung Biologics in 2011, and after serving as a plant team leader & Operation Support team leader for Drug Substance MFG, she now overlooks the entire Drug Substance area.
Ms. Kim received her master's degree for Food Science and Biotechnology from Seoul National University in 2006.
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Seungho RyuExecutive Vice President
Seungho Ryu is Executive Vice President and Head of Business Management Department.Prior to joining Samsung Biologics, Mr. Ryu started his career at Samsung Electronics and has been carrying out business management for more than 25 years including his career at SEF (Samsung Electronics France) and Samsung Headquarters. -
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Yong ParkVice President
Yong Park is Vice President, Head of HR Planning Department.Mr. Park has over 25 years of experience in managing human resources.
Prior to joining Samsung Biologics, Mr. Park began his career at Samsung Electronics as HR manager for the headquarters, and expanded his experience at Samsung Electronics by overseeing HR team for Western Asia and North America.
Mr. Park holds an MBA from Purdue University. -
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Sangmyung LeeVice President
Sangmyung Lee is Vice President and Head of Business Strategy.After joining Samsung Life Insurance in 2003, Mr. Lee handled various management support roles including the areas of finance, project management, mid-to-long term strategy T/F, etc. at 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.
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Doyoung HeoVice President
Doyoung Heo is Vice President and Head of Finance.Mr. Heo transitioned to Samsung Biologics from Samsung Electronics.
Mr. Heo holds a bachelor degree in business management at Korea University and acquired an MBA from the University of Indiana. -
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Christina KimVice President
Christina Kim is Vice President and Head of Business Development Team.Prior to joining Samsung Biologics, Ms. Kim spent over 26 years in strategic planning and business development for Life sciences and diagnostics organizations.
Ms. Kim has also held senior leadership roles in Danaher as a Business executive with extensive global experience in medium-to-large healthcare companies, including significant involvement in M&A, business integration, and organizational restructuring.
Ms. Kim holds a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and a master’s degree from St. John's University. -
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Heekyun LimVice 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 bio research for Samsung Electronics.
Mr. Lim holds a master’s degree for life sciences from Pohang University of Science and Technology.