Choi will be responsible for overseeing and leading all of BlackRock’s Korea business interests, and driving its local market strategy across all client groups.
He succeeds Sung Nak Yang, who has been Korea representative director for the last six years and a member of the country team for more than 13 years, the company said, adding he would stay until 23 June to ensure a smooth transition.
Choi’s appointment will be effective from 3 June and he will report to Andrew Reynolds, chief financial officer and head of corporate strategy Asia Pacific.
“Korea is a very dynamic and competitive market for investment and wealth management in the region with huge growth potential. Local success is critical to the growth of our regional business,” Reynolds said on the business expansion.
Choi has more than three decades of local and international investment and sales industry experience with his latest role at Schroder being head of sales in Korea. He has also worked with Korea Investment Trust for more than 15 years across a number of roles including global investment, portfolio management, and research and sales in the US and Korea.
As part of its expansion drive, BlackRock in November appointed Leo Seewald as country head for Taiwan and also recently named Helen Zhu as managing director and head of China equities.
As of 31 December, BlackRock’s assets under management were $4.324trn.
