

WEBTOON will streamline its operating structure, shifting from regional to integrated global leadership



As President Yongsoo Kim assumes oversight and consolidates global operations, the Chief Operating Officer role

<ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="bwlistdisc">
<li xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
WEBTOON will streamline its operating structure, shifting from regional to integrated global leadership

</li>
<li xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
As President Yongsoo Kim assumes oversight and consolidates global operations, the Chief Operating Officer role will be eliminated; David J Lee will continue as Chief Financial Officer and will additionally serve as President of Wattpad

</li>
<li xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
A newly created Chief Business Officer role will lead growth, marketing, content, and creator management for WEBTOON's global webcomic platform business in Korea and Rest of World

</li>
<li xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Experienced WEBTOON leaders will assume the roles of Chief Product Officer, Head of AI, and Head of IP Business; the role of Chief Technology Officer will be eliminated

</li>
</ul>
WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WBTN">WBTN</a>) today announced a new global leadership structure and Chief Business Officer role as it accelerates execution and innovation under recently appointed President Yongsoo Kim. The company has unified its global leadership structure to move faster and integrate regional operations, enhancing speed and efficiency across the company's global ecosystem.


"After twenty years of transforming storytelling and entertainment, our full global potential is within reach, and this is a moment where we must evolve and innovate more than ever," said Yongsoo Kim, President of WEBTOON Entertainment. "We're making bold changes to sharpen execution and move faster as an aligned global organization. We're not done evolving, and we're not slowing down."


Chief Product Officer


Yuki Chae has been elevated to Chief Product Officer for WEBTOON Entertainment. In the newly structured role, Chae will integrate WEBTOON's global product roadmap, aligning development to unlock speed and product innovation.


As a WEBTOON veteran with roots across the company&#39;s most important markets, Chae is uniquely positioned to lead its integrated global product vision, having previously overseen product operations across North America, Japan, and Korea.


Chief Business Officer


Leah Goeun Yeon has joined WEBTOON Entertainment as the company's first Chief Business Officer (CBO). In the newly created role, Yeon will oversee WEBTOON's Korean and Rest of World webcomic platform business (excluding Japan), leading growth, marketing, content, and creator management.


Yeon brings nearly two decades of global experience in growth, marketing, and consulting roles. She was previously Chief Growth &amp; Marketing Officer at Woowa Brothers, a top food delivery app in Korea. Yeon was also co-founder and CEO of Simply O, a Korea-founded e-commerce lifestyle brand that expanded to the global market. Yeon has also held roles at McKinsey, Google, Samsung Electronics, and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.


Wattpad Leadership


David J Lee will take on the role of President of Wattpad in addition to his role as global Chief Financial Officer for WEBTOON Entertainment. He steps into the role as the Wattpad platform continues its transformation efforts, with a deepened focus on ad-supported free content and expanded access for its global community of readers and writers.


David J Lee has previously led transformations at consumer technology companies like ZYNGA, Impossible Foods, and Best Buy's move to e-commerce business.


AI Leadership and Technical Organization


Teo Taeyeong Jang has been elevated to Head of AI. Jang will build on WEBTOON's existing AI capabilities, including content protection and anti-piracy innovations, content discovery, and the newly launched Translation Program, all designed to help creators reach new audiences.


His appointment comes as the company expands its AI transformation for internal productivity, while continuing to invest in AI-powered tools and experiences that support creators and enhance how fans discover and engage with their favorite stories.


Jang has held leadership roles at WEBTOON's Machine Learning and AI Services teams since 2021. He was previously a Software Engineer at Samsung Electronics.


IP Business Leadership


Sean Shinhyung Kim has been elevated to Head of IP Business, where he'll strengthen WEBTOON Entertainment's IP ecosystem across its platforms and subsidiaries, strategically expanding its IP value chain in areas that can accelerate global growth. The role reflects WEBTOON Entertainment's ongoing commitment to building one of the most dynamic IP pipelines in global entertainment and creating opportunities for Creators that extends from its main platform business to TV, film, gaming, merchandise, and more.


Sean Shinhyung Kim has excelled as a corporate leader at WEBTOON. Since joining the company in 2021, he has held leadership roles in Global Business Operations and Strategy &amp; Research.


All roles will report directly to President Yongsoo Kim. David J Lee will continue to report to CEO Junkoo Kim in his role as global CFO.


About WEBTOON Entertainment


WEBTOON Entertainment is a leading global entertainment company and home to some of the world&#39;s largest storytelling platforms. As the global leader and pioneer of the mobile webcomic format, WEBTOON Entertainment has transformed comics and visual storytelling for fans and creators.


With its CANVAS UGC platform empowering anyone to become a creator, and a growing roster of superstar WEBTOON Originals creators and series, WEBTOON Entertainment's passionate fandoms are the new face of pop culture. WEBTOON Entertainment adaptations are available on Netflix, Prime Video, Crunchyroll, and other screens around the world, and the company's content partners include Discord, HYBE, and DC Comics, among many others.


With approximately 160 million monthly active users, WEBTOON Entertainment's IP &amp; Creator Ecosystem of aligned brands and platforms include WEBTOON, Wattpad--the world's leading webnovel platform--WEBTOON Productions, Studio N, Studio LICO, WEBTOON Unscrolled, LINE MANGA, and eBookJapan, among others.

<img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" alt="" src="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=bwnews&amp;sty=20260413413375r1&amp;sid=benz2&amp;distro=nx&amp;lang=en" style="width:0;height:0"></img>View source version on businesswire.com: <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413413375/en/" rel="nofollow">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413413375/en/</a>
Media Contact
 Kiel Hume
 <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="mailto:kiel@webtoon.com" shape="rect">kiel@webtoon.com</a>


Investor Relations
 Soohwan Kim, CFA
 <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="mailto:investor@webtoon.com" shape="rect">investor@webtoon.com</a>

WBTN

WEBTOON Entertainment Announces Leadership Changes to Accelerate Global Growth Strategy

WEBTOON's Leadership Shake-Up Aims to Enhance Global Operations

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
 <section data-block="information">
 <h3>Information</h3>
 WEBTOON will streamline its operating structure, shifting from regional to integrated global leadership



As President Yongsoo Kim assumes oversight and consolidates global operations, the Chief Operating Officer role
 </section>

 <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
 <h3>AI Summary</h3>
 WEBTOON Entertainment is restructuring its leadership to accelerate global operations and innovation under new President Yongsoo Kim. The changes could enhance operational efficiency and drive long-term growth for the company.
 </section>

 <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
 <h3>Key Points</h3>
 <ul><li>WEBTOON will streamline to an integrated global leadership structure.</li><li>David J Lee will become President of Wattpad alongside CFO role.</li><li>Leah Goeun Yeon has been appointed as Chief Business Officer.</li><li>New roles created to enhance product development and IP management.</li><li>Focus on speed and innovation under President Yongsoo Kim.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
 <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
 <ul><li>Wattpad (N/A): Wattpad&#039;s transformation under David J Lee could synergize with WEBTOON.</li><li>ZYNGA (ZNGA): David J Lee&#039;s experience at ZYNGA may bring strategic insights to WEBTOON.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="category">
 <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
 This falls under Corporate Developments as WEBTOON restructures leadership to boost efficiency and growth. It represents a pivotal moment for operational strategy and innovation within the company.
 </section>

 <section data-block="market-moving">
 <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
 <ul><li>Leadership changes may drive investor confidence and attract new capital.</li><li>Enhanced focus on global growth could lead to increased revenue streams.</li><li>The integration of AI capabilities may offer competitive advantages in content delivery.</li><li>Strategic focus on IP management could enhance the value of existing franchises.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="key-facts">
 <h3>Key Facts</h3>
 <ul><li>WEBTOON has approximately 160 million monthly active users.</li><li>President Yongsoo Kim emphasizes the need for faster innovation and execution.</li><li>Chief Business Officer Leah Goeun Yeon has 20 years of global experience.</li><li>David J Lee also serves as President of Wattpad.</li><li>Elimination of several key roles is part of the restructuring to streamline operations.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="trading-thesis">
 <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
 WBTN stock could rise as new leadership boosts operational efficiency within 6-12 months.
 </section>
</section>


<ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="bwlistdisc">
<li xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
WEBTOON will streamline its operating structure, shifting from regional to integrated global leadership

</li>
<li xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
As President Yongsoo Kim assumes oversight and consolidates global operations, the Chief Operating Officer role will be eliminated; David J Lee will continue as Chief Financial Officer and will additionally serve as President of Wattpad

</li>
<li xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
A newly created Chief Business Officer role will lead growth, marketing, content, and creator management for WEBTOON's global webcomic platform business in Korea and Rest of World

</li>
<li xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Experienced WEBTOON leaders will assume the roles of Chief Product Officer, Head of AI, and Head of IP Business; the role of Chief Technology Officer will be eliminated

</li>
</ul>
WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WBTN">WBTN</a>) today announced a new global leadership structure and Chief Business Officer role as it accelerates execution and innovation under recently appointed President Yongsoo Kim. The company has unified its global leadership structure to move faster and integrate regional operations, enhancing speed and efficiency across the company's global ecosystem.


"After twenty years of transforming storytelling and entertainment, our full global potential is within reach, and this is a moment where we must evolve and innovate more than ever," said Yongsoo Kim, President of WEBTOON Entertainment. "We're making bold changes to sharpen execution and move faster as an aligned global organization. We're not done evolving, and we're not slowing down."


Chief Product Officer


Yuki Chae has been elevated to Chief Product Officer for WEBTOON Entertainment. In the newly structured role, Chae will integrate WEBTOON's global product roadmap, aligning development to unlock speed and product innovation.


As a WEBTOON veteran with roots across the company&#39;s most important markets, Chae is uniquely positioned to lead its integrated global product vision, having previously overseen product operations across North America, Japan, and Korea.


Chief Business Officer


Leah Goeun Yeon has joined WEBTOON Entertainment as the company's first Chief Business Officer (CBO). In the newly created role, Yeon will oversee WEBTOON's Korean and Rest of World webcomic platform business (excluding Japan), leading growth, marketing, content, and creator management.


Yeon brings nearly two decades of global experience in growth, marketing, and consulting roles. She was previously Chief Growth &amp; Marketing Officer at Woowa Brothers, a top food delivery app in Korea. Yeon was also co-founder and CEO of Simply O, a Korea-founded e-commerce lifestyle brand that expanded to the global market. Yeon has also held roles at McKinsey, Google, Samsung Electronics, and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.


Wattpad Leadership


David J Lee will take on the role of President of Wattpad in addition to his role as global Chief Financial Officer for WEBTOON Entertainment. He steps into the role as the Wattpad platform continues its transformation efforts, with a deepened focus on ad-supported free content and expanded access for its global community of readers and writers.


David J Lee has previously led transformations at consumer technology companies like ZYNGA, Impossible Foods, and Best Buy's move to e-commerce business.


AI Leadership and Technical Organization


Teo Taeyeong Jang has been elevated to Head of AI. Jang will build on WEBTOON's existing AI capabilities, including content protection and anti-piracy innovations, content discovery, and the newly launched Translation Program, all designed to help creators reach new audiences.


His appointment comes as the company expands its AI transformation for internal productivity, while continuing to invest in AI-powered tools and experiences that support creators and enhance how fans discover and engage with their favorite stories.


Jang has held leadership roles at WEBTOON's Machine Learning and AI Services teams since 2021. He was previously a Software Engineer at Samsung Electronics.


IP Business Leadership


Sean Shinhyung Kim has been elevated to Head of IP Business, where he'll strengthen WEBTOON Entertainment's IP ecosystem across its platforms and subsidiaries, strategically expanding its IP value chain in areas that can accelerate global growth. The role reflects WEBTOON Entertainment's ongoing commitment to building one of the most dynamic IP pipelines in global entertainment and creating opportunities for Creators that extends from its main platform business to TV, film, gaming, merchandise, and more.


Sean Shinhyung Kim has excelled as a corporate leader at WEBTOON. Since joining the company in 2021, he has held leadership roles in Global Business Operations and Strategy &amp; Research.


All roles will report directly to President Yongsoo Kim. David J Lee will continue to report to CEO Junkoo Kim in his role as global CFO.


About WEBTOON Entertainment


WEBTOON Entertainment is a leading global entertainment company and home to some of the world&#39;s largest storytelling platforms. As the global leader and pioneer of the mobile webcomic format, WEBTOON Entertainment has transformed comics and visual storytelling for fans and creators.


With its CANVAS UGC platform empowering anyone to become a creator, and a growing roster of superstar WEBTOON Originals creators and series, WEBTOON Entertainment's passionate fandoms are the new face of pop culture. WEBTOON Entertainment adaptations are available on Netflix, Prime Video, Crunchyroll, and other screens around the world, and the company's content partners include Discord, HYBE, and DC Comics, among many others.


With approximately 160 million monthly active users, WEBTOON Entertainment's IP &amp; Creator Ecosystem of aligned brands and platforms include WEBTOON, Wattpad--the world's leading webnovel platform--WEBTOON Productions, Studio N, Studio LICO, WEBTOON Unscrolled, LINE MANGA, and eBookJapan, among others.

<img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" alt="" src="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=bwnews&amp;sty=20260413413375r1&amp;sid=benz2&amp;distro=nx&amp;lang=en" style="width:0;height:0"></img>View source version on businesswire.com: <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413413375/en/" rel="nofollow">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413413375/en/</a>
Media Contact
 Kiel Hume
 <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="mailto:kiel@webtoon.com" shape="rect">kiel@webtoon.com</a>


Investor Relations
 Soohwan Kim, CFA
 <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="mailto:investor@webtoon.com" shape="rect">investor@webtoon.com</a>

WEBTOON Entertainment is restructuring its leadership to accelerate global operations and innovation under new President Yongsoo Kim. The changes could enhance operational efficiency and drive long-term growth for the company.

WEBTOON Entertainment Announces Leadership Changes to Accelerate Global Growth Strategy

AI Summary

Sentiment Rationale

Trading Thesis

Market-Moving

Key Facts

Companies Mentioned

Corporate Developments

Related News