Kumho Tire Co. Inc. has named B.K. Kim CEO and president of Kumho Tire North America, as originally reported Jan. 7 on moderntiredealer.com. Meanwhile, D.H. Ham has been appointed president of Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc.
Ham succeeds Kyu Cho, who retired from Kumho last month after 33 years with the company. In his newly created position, Kim will oversee Kumho’s North American operations, which include Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. and Kumho Tire Canada Inc. He will be based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
On Jan. 7, Kim told dealers at Kumho Tire U.S.A.'s annual dealer meeting that the South Korean company intends to be the eighth largest tiremaker within two years
"The global tire industry is changing as tiremakers eliminate private brands," said Kim. "Kumho's global strategy is to expand production and our manufacturing structure." (For the full report, see "Kumho says it will be eighth largest tiremaker within two years," posted on moderntiredealer.com on Jan. 7.)
Kim joined Kumho in 1974 in the company’s overseas sales division. He served in a variety of duties in that division, including vice president, before being named senior vice president of Kumho's OEM sales division in 1999. In 2005, he was named senior executive vice president in charge of the sales division and was then named head of the company's sales and administration division in 2006.
Ham has been with Kumho Tire since 1978. In 2000, he was named senior vice president of general affairs and administration for Kumho Polychem Co., Ltd., and rejoined Kumho Tire in 2006. Ham also will work out of Kumho Tire U.S.A.'s office in California.
