KT&G CEO Candidate Selection Committee Announces Four Finalists

Business by 2FIRSTS.ai
Feb.18.2024
KT&G CEO Candidate Selection Committee Announces Four Finalists
KT&G CEO candidate committee selects four potential candidates, including internal ones, to succeed current CEO at upcoming shareholder meeting.

According to a report by the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo on February 17th, the CEO candidate recommendation committee of KT&G (a South Korean tobacco company) has announced that four candidates have been selected for the next CEO position. The candidates are former Samsung Electronics Vice President Kwon Gyu-hyun, KT&G Senior Vice President Bang Kyung-wan, former AK Holdings President Lee Sik-chu, and KGC Ginseng Corporation President Heo Cheol-ho (listed in alphabetical order).

 

Among them, Fang Jingwan and Xu Zhehao are internal candidates of KT&G, while the other two are external candidates. The committee will conduct in-depth interviews with the candidates and plan to confirm the final candidate and announce it next week. The next CEO will be elected at the regular shareholders' meeting at the end of March.

 

Previously, the current CEO of KT&G, Baek Pok-in, announced that he will not seek re-election for a fourth term and stated, "As KT&G moves towards 'global top level leap' and transformation, new leadership is needed."

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

RJR Vapor Loses Tax Refund Case as Texas High Court Finds VELO Pouches Taxable
RJR Vapor Loses Tax Refund Case as Texas High Court Finds VELO Pouches Taxable
The Texas Supreme Court issued a case summary on May 8, 2026, describing its decision in Hancock v. RJR Vapor Co. LLC. The dispute centered on whether RJR Vapor’s VELO oral nicotine pouches are taxable as “tobacco products” under the Texas Tax Code. Lower courts had held that the pouches were not taxable tobacco products, but the Texas Supreme Court reversed, concluding that VELO pouches are taxable because they are made of “a tobacco substitute.”
May.09 by 2FIRSTS.ai
State Registries Are Reshaping U.S. Vape Market Access 2Firsts Interview with U.S. Vapor Manufacturers Association President Allison Boughner
State Registries Are Reshaping U.S. Vape Market Access 2Firsts Interview with U.S. Vapor Manufacturers Association President Allison Boughner
As the U.S. vapor market faces FDA authorizations, import seizures and growing state-level restrictions, AVM President Allison Boughner told 2Firsts that state product registries and white-list systems are having the most immediate impact. She said distributors are placing greater weight on documentation, product origin and supply-chain transparency.
Special Report
May.26
Imperial Brands Expects Low-Single-Digit Tobacco and NGP Net Revenue Growth in H1
Imperial Brands Expects Low-Single-Digit Tobacco and NGP Net Revenue Growth in H1
Imperial Brands released a trading update on April 14, reiterating its FY26 guidance and saying its 2030 transformation has started positively. The company said it still expects low-single-digit tobacco net revenue growth, double-digit NGP net revenue growth, 3.00% to 5.00% growth in Group adjusted operating profit, at least high-single-digit earnings per share growth, and at least GBP 2.2 billion in free cash flow for the full year.
Apr.14 by 2FIRSTS.ai
PMI U.S. White Paper Calls for Greater Access to FDA-Authorized Smoke-Free Alternatives and Risk-Based Taxation
PMI U.S. White Paper Calls for Greater Access to FDA-Authorized Smoke-Free Alternatives and Risk-Based Taxation
PMI’s U.S. business released a white paper and cited a national online survey showing that 79.00% of Americans surveyed believe more should be done to reduce smoking-related harm. The paper calls on policymakers, public health authorities, and medical professionals to place cigarette smoking back at the center of public health priorities, and recommends broader access to FDA-authorized smoke-free alternatives, clearer nicotine risk communication, and risk-based taxation.
Apr.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Exclusive | TPE 2026 Cools as Caution Deepens in the U.S. Vape Market
Exclusive | TPE 2026 Cools as Caution Deepens in the U.S. Vape Market
The show had become an important check-in point for Chinese manufacturers and brand owners looking for signs of change in the U.S. market after months of softer demand. Instead, participants said the event highlighted a more restrained mood: traffic in the vape section was uneven, standout launches were limited, and conversations often failed to turn into orders.
Special Report
Apr.12
Malaysian Tobacco Control Groups Call for Annual 5% Tobacco Tax Hike
Malaysian Tobacco Control Groups Call for Annual 5% Tobacco Tax Hike
According to The Star and The Edge Malaysia, tobacco control groups in Malaysia have urged the government to raise tobacco taxes by at least 5% annually, saying the measure could reduce smoking rates and fund public health and social programmes.
News
May.26