SK biopharmaceuticals taps 1st female board chair, adds two outside directors

SK biopharmaceuticals has appointed Suh Ji-hee as chair of its board, marking the first time a woman has held the role since the company’s founding.

The appointment was made Wednesday following the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting and subsequent board session. Suh, a former partner at Samjong KPMG, joined SK biopharmaceuticals as an outside director in March 2024 and has since served on key committees including the audit committee.

According to the company, Suh was selected for her three decades of experience in accounting, auditing and risk management. She became the first female vice president of KPMG Korea in 2021 and the first female executive at Samjong KPMG in 2023.

SK biopharmaceuticals also added two new outside directors: Kim Yong-jin, president of the Biomedical Research Institute at Seoul National University Hospital, and Cho Kyoung-sun, former CEO of Shinhan DS.

Kim is a professor of cardiology and has led AI-based medical data projects and drug development efforts at the hospital. He is expected to advise on R&D strategy, technology adoption and global pipeline expansion, SK biopharmaceuticals said.

Cho served as the first female CEO within the Shinhan Financial Group. With over 40 years of experience in finance and IT, she is expected to provide advisory support in financial strategy, accounting and risk management.

“By strengthening the leadership of our board, we aim to establish an independent and specialized advisory system across key areas of business,” CEO Lee Dong-hoon said in a statement. “We will continue to enhance our strategic capabilities to become a leading global biopharma company.”