Nexon appoints new co-CEOs for Korean operation

Nexon, a Tokyo-listed game publisher, has named new co-CEOs for its Korean operation, with Kang Dae-hyun and Kim Jung-wook taking the top posts.

Nexon Korea chief communication officer Kim Jung-wook, left, and chief operating officer Kang Dae-hyun were nominated as co-CEOs for the Korean operation of Nexon. [NEXON]

Nexon, a Tokyo-listed game publisher, named new co-CEOs for its Korean operation, as its incumbent CEO for Nexon Korea is set to be promoted to head the company’s headquarters in Japan.

Kang Dae-hyun, Nexon Korea chief operating officer, and Kim Jung-wook, the chief communication officer, have been tapped to take the top posts.

Kang joined Nexon in 2004, and handled game development, publishing and operations through 2020, when he was appointed the COO of the company. As the COO, he established business strategies for gaming and service operations for Nexon Korea.

Kim worked for JoongAng Ilbo before joining Nexon in 2013. The co-CEO designate was named the head of communications in 2016 and the chairman of Nexon Foundation in 2018. Kim was then promoted to CCO in 2020 to handle internal and external affairs involving communications, human resource management and corporate social responsibility affairs.

The two CEO-designates for Nexon Korea will be officially appointed for the positions in March next year through a board meeting and other administrative processes.

“Based on the experience I have accumulated so far, I will innovate and challenge myself to further enhance Nexon’s competitiveness,” said Kang.

“I will do my best to support Nexon so that it wouldn’t lose its own unique identity while continuing to grow with the society,” said Kim.

The current CEO of the Korean branch, Lee Jung-hun, was named the next president and CEO of Nexon. Lee will officially take office in March as well, following the annual general shareholders’ meeting.

Nexon posted expectation-beating operating profit of 46.3 billion yen ($306.6 million) for the third quarter, up 47 percent on year. Revenue rose 23 percent to 120.3 billion yen, or 1.9 trillion won. Net profit declined 15 percent to 35.2 billion yen.

Nexon Korea is Tokyo-based Nexon’s largest subsidiary. Nexon, founded in 1994 by the late Kim Jung-ju, went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2011.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]