South Korea-based SK Biopharmaceuticals has named Donghoon Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Bio Investment Centre of SK Inc., as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of SK Biopharmaceuticals and its US subsidiary SK Life Science, effective January 1 2023.

Lee will bring expertise in global new business development and deal-making to further spur the growth of SK Biopharmaceuticals. Dr Jeong Woo Cho, who had been the CEO of SK Biopharmaceuticals and SK Life Science since 2017, will serve as the President of Future Growth.

The new CEO previously held leadership positions at a renowned global professional services firm, KPMG, and pharmaceutical companies, including as the CEO and Executive Vice President of Dong-A Socio Holdings. At SK Inc., Lee headed the Bio Investment Centre, executing key investment deals in line with SK Group’s vision to fortify battery, bio, and chip (BBC) businesses as its main growth drivers. He spearheaded SK’s global deals such as launching a US joint venture called ProteoVant, a protein degradation company, with Switzerland-based Roivant Sciences; acquiring France-based Yposkesi, a CDMO for cell and gene therapies; and making investments in the Center for Breakthrough Medicines, a Philadelphia-based cell and gene therapy CDMO, and Singapore-based biotech company Hummingbird.