Moderna Korea appoints former AstraZeneca Korea head as new GM

Moderna Korea said that it appointed Kim Sang-pyo, the former General Manager (GM) of AstraZeneca Korea, as new GM, effective from Thursday.

Kim will succeed Sohn Ji-young, who has led Moderna's establishment and overall operations in the Korean market since 2021, driving the company's innovation and growth in the region.

"I am deeply honored to take on the role of GM at Moderna Korea,” Kim said. “Korea is a critical market in Moderna’s global strategy, and I feel a profound responsibility further to strengthen our leadership in the mRNA technology sector here.”

Kim stressed that he is committed to fully realizing Moderna's mission of harnessing mRNA medicines for the benefit of humanity and contributing to the health and well-being of the Korean people.

Kim brings over 20 years of extensive experience and proven achievements in the pharmaceutical industry.

From 2018 until recently, he served as the GM of AstraZeneca Korea, where he enhanced operational efficiency, drove growth, maximized new product launch opportunities, and developed global business projects, including the supply of Covid-19 vaccines.

Prior to AstraZeneca, he held various leadership positions in both Korean and global commercial sectors at MSD, including oncology general manager and business unit director.

Patrick Bergstedt, Senior Vice President of Asia and Emerging Markets at Moderna, expressed his gratitude to Sohn Ji-young for her dedication over the past three years in establishing Moderna’s presence in the Korean market.

"We wish her all the best in her future endeavors," Bergstedt said.

Bergstedt also welcomed Kim's appointment, stating, "We are excited to have Kim join us. With his extensive experience and deep insights in the healthcare industry, we look forward to his leadership in advancing Moderna Korea."