From left are Lee Seung-yeul, Kang Seong-muk and Lee Ho-seoung, the CEO nominees for Hana Bank, Hana Securities and Hana Card. Courtesy of Hana Financial Group

Yi Whan-woo

Hana Financial Group has nominated Lee Seung-yeul, the chief of Hana Life Insurance, as the new CEO of Hana Bank in the first reshuffle of heads of the group's key affiliates after its Chairman Ham Young-joo took office early this year, the company said Wednesday.

The group also said it nominated Hana Alternative Asset Management CEO Kang Seong-muk and Hana Bank Vice President Lee Ho-seoung to lead Hana Securities and Hana Card, respectively.

Decided by the group's executive candidate recommendation committee, the nomination of the three will need approval from the group's shareholders and board of directors.

"The recommendation committee found each nominee as the right man to enhance sales capabilities and risk management at a time when uncertainties grow in the finance industry," the group said in a press release. "Such uncertainties add to the escalating possibility of a crisis and the nominees are regarded apt for inspiring sustainable growth."

Lee Seung-yeul, 59, began his career at Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) in 1991.

After KEB was merged with Hana Bank in 2015, Lee, served in various key positions such as chief financial officer (CFO) at both Hana Bank and Hana Financial Group, before being named to lead Hana Life Insurance in 2020.

The group said the recommendation committee highly assessed Lee Seung-yeul's insight and acumen on risk management to overcome the tough banking environment.

Plus, he was given credit for his communication skills with the banking group's CEOs and executives, as well as rank and file members, many of whom are Millennials and Generation Z.

"In particular, Lee has been known for keenly paying attention to what people on the sales frontline say, and thus is anticipated to form amicable relations with investors and other parties of interest groups," the company said. "He indeed is a trustworthy figure who can efficiently lead any group in the finance industry where co-prosperity and co-work are valued."

Kang, 58, mostly built his career with Hana Bank after joining it in 1993. He served as a vice president of the bank for more than two years since 2019, before working at UBS Hana Asset Management, also as a vice president, and then being promoted to CEO of Hana Alternative Asset Management.

The recommendation committee recognized Kang's leadership for diversifying business portfolios of Hana Alternative Asset Management to retail business and wealth management, noting the company was heavily focused on investment banking before he joined.

Lee Ho-seoung, 57, has spent his entire career with Hana bank after entering the company in 1992.

He worked at a number of branch offices afterward, developing expertise and know-how in sales.

"Lee's abundant experience on the sales frontline, coupled with his network in and outside the banking group, is anticipated to contribute to the sales-oriented corporate culture of Hana Card," Hana Financial Group said.