SK Bioscience appoints former BMS lead Pa-leun Kim as VP

Has accumulated experience in external affairs after working at the Office of the Presidential Secretary for Public Affairs at Cheong Wa Dae

The company is driving capability building initiatives in its R&D department among others after Jae-yong Ahn was appointed CEO

VP Pa-leun Kim

SK Bioscience is making continued efforts to strengthen the company’s capability by recruiting talents to make the leap forward and become a global vaccine company.

 

According to industry sources, SK Bioscience appointed Pa-leun Kim (44), former Lead at Bristol-Myers Squibb Korea, as its Vice President of Communication and Government Affairs.

 

The company had been stepping up efforts to develop its COVID-19 vaccine while expanding its CMO business with the appointment of CEO Jae-Yong Ahn (54) in April last year.

 

In addition to expanding its manufacturing facilities, the company has also been recruiting new talent in various areas since last year.

 

The company's R&D personnel alone increased by 30% last year.

 

VP Pa-leun Kim had served in the Office of the Presidential Secretary for Public Affairs at Cheong Wa Dae for 5 years since 2008 before starting his career in the pharmaceutical industry in 2013 at GSK Korea.

 

At GSK, Kim was in charge of the company’s general communications and government affairs, promoted Fluarix Tetra’s release in Korea, and led Consumer Healthcare CGA and Communication & Government Affairs.

 

After moving to BMs, Kim continued to accumulate extensive experience in public affairs and government affairs serving as the lead of Government Affairs & Policy.

 

Kim acquired a bachelor’s degree in International Politics at The University of Sheffield, and a Master of Science in Forced Migration and Development Studies at Oxford University.

 

SK Bioscience signed a CMO contract with AstraZeneca to manufacture its COVID-19 vaccine drug substance and the finished product in July 2020.

 

In August of the same year, the company also signed a CDMO agreement with Novavax to develop and manufacture its COVID-19 vaccine.

 

After signing a technology transfer agreement with Novavax in February last year, the company secured the rights to manufacture and sell Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine and is also developing its COVID-19 vaccine NBP2001 and GBP510 (with aluminum adjuvant AS03).