New Year’s keywords in the CEO’s New Year’s Address…Uncertainty, Customers, ESG, New Business

On the 4th of the year, heads of major groups gave a New Year’s address at once and started business activities on the 4th. In the midst of the new coronavirus infectious disease (Corona 19), each company selected’uncertainty’ as the biggest crisis factor. As breakthroughs, he emphasized’customers’,’ESG (environment, society, governance)’, and’challenge to new business’. In particular, most of the companies replaced the opening ceremony online in the aftermath of Corona 19, and the heads of directors produced a unique scene that appeared wearing masks in the video.

Vice Chairman Kim Ki-nam of Samsung Electronics emphasized’Customer-centered challenge and innovation’. Vice-Chairman Kim held an online opening ceremony and said, “Corona 19 is promoting changes in society and economy in general.” Samsung held a ceremony every year at Samsung Digital City, located in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, but this year, it was conducted non-face-to-face according to the policy to keep the Corona 19 away. Vice-Chairman Kim said, “We need to increase customer experience and customer value by putting customers at the very center. We will systematically foster the next-generation new growth field and make new preparations looking forward to the next decade.

Following last year, there was no New Year’s address for Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong this year. Vice-Chairman Lee, however, visited Samsung Electronics’ Pyeongtaek Plant 2 in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, on the first day of the new year. This factory produces ultra-fine foundries (consigned semiconductor production). Vice Chairman Lee attended the ceremony for bringing in foundry production facilities with representatives of partner companies. He said, “Let’s leap to the new Samsung in the new year. Together, we can open up the future.” He pledged, “Let’s make a myth in system semiconductors by cooperating with Samsung Electronics and partners, academics, and research institutes to create a healthy ecosystem.”

The Hyundai Motor Group canceled the New Year’s meeting scheduled on the morning of that day due to the death of an employee of a partner company in the Ulsan plant that occurred on the 3rd. Since the inauguration of Chairman Eui-sun Eui-sun in October last year, the first opening ceremony for employees has been canceled. However, through a New Year message sent to executives and employees in the form of e-mail, Chairman Chung said, “The first step in respecting customers is to pursue perfection without compromising quality and safety.” We will do our best to create a safe environment and prevent accidents by mobilizing it.”

SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won emphasized customer-oriented management through’new entrepreneurship’ in the preceding New Year’s greetings (1st). Chairman Choi said, “SK has grown because of the opportunities and support allowed by society.” “I was clumsy and lacking in returning the benefits and encouragement that companies received, and from this reflection, I came to rethink the role of companies.” In particular, he emphasized, “Climate changes and pandemics will destroy the weakest places in society first, and companies cannot be free from these problems,” he said.

LG Group CEO Koo Kwang-mo appeared in the digital video’LG 2021 New Year’s Letter’ and said, “Let’s turn customers into LG fans.” “Let’s focus on customer complaints and don’t miss out on small opinions and small voices,” said at last year’s New Year’s speech. He added, “Let’s think about how to reflect customer insights to products and services using digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data,” he added.

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin said in his New Year’s speech, “We must cherish the trust we have received from customers and society, and pursue harmonious growth with the environment with a long view.” Let’s create a reliable collaborative ecosystem.” To this end, he emphasized, “A proactive and voluntary attitude to lead the economic recovery is necessary,” and “creating synergy based on strong execution power”.

Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon said, “We need to strengthen sustainability management that creates socio-economic value to a global level,” predicting that uncertainty will continue throughout the industry over the next two to three years. To this end, he stressed, “We must establish and implement strategies in the direction of enhancing sustainability in terms of our management activities while strengthening ESG (environment, society, and governance).”

GS Group Chairman Huh Tae-soo said, “We need to establish a customer-centered mindset that all business starts from changes and needs of customers.” He emphasized, “We must strive to discover new businesses through digital competency enhancement and eco-friendly management.”

Shinsegae Group Vice Chairman Jeong Yong-jin said, “After the Black Death swept across Europe, a splendid flower of the Renaissance bloomed.” Please do it.”

KT Group CEO Sue Su-mo emphasized customer-centered thinking and changes in the way of working, and LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-yeol announced that he would place cash generation as a top priority in management.

Yu Hwan-ik, head of the Corporate Policy Division of the National Federation of Entrepreneurs, said, “CEOs showed their will to overcome the Corona 19 crisis through changes in their constitution such as customer-centered management. “The new year is more urgent than ever for the government and government to change their perceptions.”

Reporter Kang Byung-cheol [email protected]