Hana Bank CEO Lee Seung-yeul / Courtesy of Hana Bank

By Lee Min-hyung

Hana Bank's new CEO Lee Seung-yeul pledged to improve the bank's sales portfolio, as part of his core management strategy after taking office as its fourth leader on Monday.

Lee is considered one of the most skilled financial experts in Hana Financial Group. He has worked at key financial and strategy-setting divisions of the banking group since joining the Korea Exchange Bank in 1991, which was later merged with Hana Bank. For three years from 2019, he was the group's chief financial officer. He then became chief of Hana Life Insurance in March 2022.

Last month, the financial holding firm nominated Lee as the new leader of its cash-cow banking affiliate, saying that he is fit for preemptively dealing with looming financial uncertainties triggered by fears of a recession and lingering woes over the high levels of inflation here and abroad.

He promised to enhance the lender's overall sales productivity by realigning its loan business portfolio and enhancing its expertise in wealth management and foreign exchange transactions.

"A leader should take the initiative and set an example when it comes to handling tough tasks," Lee said in a speech upon being appointment.

He also voiced strong willingness to improve trust in the organizational structure by means of sincere communication.

"I will stand at the forefront in building a healthy and solid bank that is resilient in periods of crisis," Lee said.

He picked digitalization and globalization as two other major management strategies amid the rise of digital transformation across the financial sector.

"Hana Bank will differentiate its sales capability by training experts in core business areas such as globalization, information technology, investment banking and marketing," he said.