GC Cell said it appointed Kim Jai-wang, the former IP division head of GC Wellbeing, as its new co-CEO. Kim will formally take on the role after receiving approval at the company’s upcoming general shareholders' meeting and board of directors' meeting.
The company is transitioning from a single-CEO system to a co-CEO structure, with Kim leading the sales division and the incumbent co-CEO, Won Sung-yong, overseeing the research and development (R&D) division.
Kim brings more than 34 years of comprehensive experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Daegu University and a master’s in business administration from Chung-Ang University.
Kim started his career at GC Biopharma after joining through an open recruitment program. Over the years, he has held key positions at GC Biopharma, GC PBM, and GC Wellbeing.
GC Cell emphasized that the appointment of Kim is a strategic move to strengthen its organizational structure and drive sustainable growth.
“By focusing on specialized leadership in sales and R&D under the co-CEO system, we aim to enhance operational efficiency and establish ourselves as a fully integrated pharmaceutical company (FIPCO) specializing in cell and gene therapies”, the company stated.
Won Sung-yong, the other co-CEO, has been with GC Cell since March 2023, when he joined as the head of the research institute. He officially became co-CEO on Dec. 4, last year. Won holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in microbiology from Kyung Hee University. He earned his Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Texas Medical Branch and worked as a research fellow in immunology and genetics at the Scripps Research Institute in California.
Domestically, Won has held several roles, including leading the vaccine research group at CJ CheilJedang’s Pharmaceutical Research Institute, heading the immunotherapy and research planning team at GC Labcell’s Cell Therapy Research Institute, leading the investment team at GC Holdings, serving as vice president at Artiva Biotherapeutics, and directing the Bio Research Center at HK inno.N.