Englewood Cliffs, N.J. – LG Electronics has realigned its
management, naming Wayne Park president of LG Electronics U.S. (LGEUS).
The change was made as part of a global reorganization
designed to speed decision making and maximize efficiencies, LG Electronics said
as it announced organizational changes in the United States, refocusing
operations on key business units.
Park, a 28-year LG veteran and head of LG Electronics North
America since January, will take on the role as president. He replaces James
Shad, who is leaving the company next month. Shad joined LG in 2008 as executive
VP.
Park announced the reorganization, which includes
establishing separate U.S. sales and operations organizations for the home
entertainment and home appliance business units.
Jay Vandenbree has been named head of the LGEUS home entertainment
business unit. Vandenbree has been sales senior VP, for LGEUS since May 2010.
He joined LG in September 2009 as senior VP, U.S. go-to-market operations.
Previously, in his 23-year career at Sony Electronics, Vandenbree held key
sales operations positions, most recently president of consumer sales since
2006.
Sam Kim has been named head of the LGEUS home appliance
business unit. An LG veteran since 1988, Kim’s extensive North American
experience includes serving as head of the U.S. OEM appliance division, as well
as key product management positions in the U.S. and Canada. Since January, Kim
has served as North American regional business leader for refrigerator
products.
The existing sales and sales operations functions will be
redeployed within these business units, reporting to Kim and Vandenbree
respectively.
“This reorganization aligns with LG’s drive for achieving
success, which includes a commitment to uphold our culture of innovation paired
with a business strategy focusing on our customers’ ever-changing needs,” said
Park. “Change allows our company to grow and challenges us to achieve that
success.”
As LG streamlines its North American regional operations,
the company will continue to focus on efficiencies through various shared
service opportunities across the region. Senior executives Peter Reiner
(marketing), Ron Kitlas (human resources), B.K. Yoon (B2B OEM), and JD Han (administration)
will lead region-wide initiatives for their respective functions.
In other management changes, Y.K. Cho, currently regional
business leader for LG North America business solutions, will lead the LGEUS
commercial displays business unit. Commercial products VP Ron Snaidauf
(hospitality) and Jeff Dowell (digital signage) will report to Cho. James Lee
will lead the LGEUS air-conditioning and energy solutions business unit, with solar
VP Geoff Slevin reporting to him.
