Retail 2024: YOUNG CHOI

Choi was announced as the new leader of StarKist in December 2023, replacing Chae-Ung Um, who had been in the role for about a year and left to “pursue new professional opportunities,” according to a company news release.

Choi starts the new position just as South Korea’s Dongwon F&B, also a subsidiary of StarKist parent Dongwon Industries Co., set its sights on increasing its proportion of overseas sales to 20% by 2026. In fall 2023, Dongwon F&B reportedly was discussing a business cooperation with StarKist, which is expected to be central to that effort.

Choi brings extensive experience within the roughly 4,000-employee company to his new role. He served as chief financial officer of StarKist from May 2022 to December 2023, and was also chief operating officer in the second half of 2023. He also can draw on previous executive and finance experience, having served as CFO and COO of SPC Group’s Paris Baguette North America, as well as several positions at Tesco and as a certified public accountant for Deloitte.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Yonsei University in South Korea and his MBA from the U.K.’s Manchester Business School.