CJ Group Launches Early 2026 CEO Reshuffle, Names New CheilJedang Chief

CJ Group, chaired by Lee Jae-hyun, said it has carried out an early 2026 chief executive reshuffle, elevating Yoon Seok-hwan, head of its bio business division, to lead flagship food and biotech unit CJ CheilJedang. Yoon will keep his role atop the bio division while taking the new post.

In a second appointment, Lee Gun-il, chief executive of food distributor CJ Freshway, was tapped to run bakery and restaurant affiliate CJ Foodville concurrently. The conglomerate said both executives were chosen for their track records in global operations, strategy and business restructuring.

The move marks a shift in how CJ handles leadership changes. Rather than folding CEO appointments into a single year-end reshuffle alongside promotions and organizational changes, the group plans to decide top CEO roles first and follow with separate personnel decisions at each affiliate. The aim, it said, is to lock in short-term plans and mid-term strategy early and strengthen accountable management.

Yoon has held senior positions across bio sweeteners, global marketing and research and development, and has led the bio division since 2023. The group credited his managerial insight and strategic results as making him the right person to steer CJ CheilJedang.

His appointment follows the departure of Kang Shin-ho, the outgoing CJ CheilJedang vice chairman who was the group's first chief executive promoted through open recruitment. Kang offered to step down citing health reasons, and CJ said it accepted his decision before naming a successor.

Lee Gun-il, also a CJ CheilJedang open-recruitment hire, previously oversaw investment at CJ Foodville, led CJ Foods USA and managed business at the holding company. CJ said his experience across the food business and his global restructuring skills would prove valuable as CJ Foodville expands its Tous Les Jours bakery brand abroad.

Most other affiliate CEOs were reappointed to preserve strategic continuity, the group said, with a broader 2026 executive reshuffle focused on promoting new management leaders to follow.