Bank of Korea extends search for global bond head

The Bank of Korea has extended its recruitment search for a global corporate bond head, having failed to identify a suitable candidate from a first round of interviews, AsianInvestor can confirm.

However, the central bank has succeeded in appointing a new chief investment officer in the form of Eugene Kim from Samsung Asset Management. He is going through the bank’s internal processing system and is expected to take up office within a month for a three-year term.

The BoK, with $311 billion in foreign exchange reserves, launched a public recruitment process for both positions late last year and invited AsianInvestor to write a story advertising the fact.

It started recruiting for these roles when Choo Heung-Sik, director general of the recently restructured reserve management group, took up his post on November 21.

Internal sources reveal that the bank short-listed five candidates for both positions. However, its search for a global corporate bond head continues.

The bank stresses above all that potential candidates must be fluent in English and should have at least five years of directly relevant experience.

Applications will be accepted until February 13, with the evaluation process to begin quickly. Those interested should contact [email protected].

As for incoming CIO Kim, he will report directly to Choo and be responsible for foreign investment, risk management, performance evaluation and the supervision of foreign reserves.

Previously Kim was a managing director and CIO at Samsung Asset Management, where he has worked since 2002. He has also worked for Samsung Life and Samsung Economic Research Institute.

The BoK points out that Kim has over 25 years of experience not only in fixed income management but also equities, global allocation and alternative investments.