CJ E&M promotes Kim to HK MD amid expansion

Content company CJ E&M has promoted Sebastian Kim (pictured) to managing director of its Hong Kong office as the group looks to expand its Southeast Asia presence.

The move arrives after CJ made progress in its home territory of South Korea, according to the company.

Kim will be overseeing CJ HK’s media business in Southeast Asia, including tvN Asia and tvN Movies.

Previously, he was head of distribution and business development for the company.

Former company head Samey Lee will now go on to lead CJ Blue Corp in Vietnam. CJ E&M acquired Blue Group in 2016 and intends to use it as leverage to break into the Vietnamese content market.

CJ E&M claims it is the first foreign company to acquire a local media company in Vietnam.

Anne Chan, who is currently COO of CJ E&M HK, will also take up the new role as Asia head of global sales, covering content and digital products MAMA and KCON. Chan will report to Kim and Seon Cho, head of global sales at CJ.

“As Korean content continues to capture fandom of Asian viewers, it is important that CJ E&M leads and expands the Korean entertainment genre,” said Kim.

“To cope with the upcoming multi-platform content world, CJ E&M will continue to partner with all Pay TV and digital OTT players to deliver the best Korean entertainment.”