LG Centralizes U.S. Operations, Names Ahn President
By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 1/5/2004
Englewood Cliffs, N.J. - LG Electronics has centralized the management structure of its various North American business units under Michael Ahn, who has succeed T.J. Lee as president/CEO of the company’s U.S. subsidiary.
Previously, LG’s core U.S. business units — digital display and media, digital appliances and mobile phones — had reported to the heads of their respective divisions at LG corporate headquarters in Seoul, Korea. Those groups, along with LG’s OEM, service and support operations, will now report directly to Ahn, who will be based at LG Electronics USA’s headquarters here.
Ahn is a 28-year-veteran of LG, having variously served as president of LG’s German operations, VP of U.S. OEM sales, senior VP of service and operations for Zenith, and most recently as executive VP of global appliance sales. According to LG, his newest appointment follows the completion of Lee’s three-year assignment to initiate the U.S. launch of the LG video brand and to implement a digital strategy for Zenith. Lee is returning to Korea for reassignment, the company said.
According to LG vice chairman/CEO S.S. Kim, the restructuring 'will maximize the synergy effect of our various divisions, brands and operations as we position LG as a premium brand in the U.S.'
In a recent interview with TWICE, Ahn acknowledged the challenges that LG faces in the U.S. market. 'Even though the LG brand is almost unknown to U.S. consumers, they are buying our products because of their unique design and special technologies,' he said. 'To attain market share, we must be better than our competitors. We achieve that through innovation, which is the application of technology to consumer needs.'
Ahn will also succeed Lee on the board of directors of the Consumer Electronics Association.
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