HS HYOSUNG has broken from six decades of family-led governance by appointing its first-ever professional manager from outside the owner family as Group Chairman. The official inauguration of Chairman Kyuyoung Kim on 1 April aims to build a more professional and rational decision-making system while advancing transparent corporate governance. By strengthening the balance between ownership and management, the group seeks to enhance long-term corporate value, directly supporting Vice Chairman H S CHO’s vision of value-driven management to build a ‘Stronger HS HYOSUNG’.

This appointment reflects Vice Chairman CHO’s philosophy that capability and performance must determine leadership, even above owner family members. The decision serves as a strong motivational signal for employees and exemplifies HS HYOSUNG’s performance-driven culture. Rather than preserving traditional ownership-based succession, the group has chosen to reward expertise and achievement.

Amid global uncertainties, this leadership choice highlights expertise and performance. It resonates with the VC’s principles of leveraging science, technology and collective intelligence. The Korean business community regards this as a symbolic turning point, showing that major family-run conglomerates can embrace professional management at the highest level.

Kim is a quintessential ‘Hyosung Man’ with over 50 years at the company. An engineer from Hanyang University, he started on production sites and advanced core products like spandex and tyre cord. He earned the trust of the late Honorary Chairman Cho Suk Rae, serving as CEO of Hyosung Corporation for eight years from 2017. Meanwhile, Vice Chairman CHO will now focus on mid-to-long-term strategies for HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS. Following the holding company restructuring, the group will pursue new growth drivers. HS HYOSUNG has also appointed Vice Chairman Ki-soo Noh as CEO, launching second-term leadership under CEO Sunghoon Ahn.

Since its spin-off from Hyosung Group in July 2024, HS HYOSUNG has promoted a ‘Value Together’ culture with initiatives like town hall meetings and cultural events for employees and families. Vice Chairman CHO continues to lead the company’s volunteer group, focusing on social contributions for people with disabilities and cultural arts.

“The appointment of a non-owner chairman for the first time in Hyosung’s 60-year history is a rare case in Korea’s business community. It establishes a new governance model based on checks and balances, opening a new chapter in Korean corporate management,” said an industry official.

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Kumho Tire USA has appointed Carolina Wagner as its new Vice President of Marketing, a move aimed at reinforcing the company’s brand strength and competitive edge across the passenger, light truck and commercial vehicle segments in United States.

Wagner will take charge of all marketing operations for Kumho Tire USA, including brand strategy, product marketing, digital outreach, demand generation and sales support. Working alongside executive leadership and the sales team, she will focus on aligning marketing efforts with the firm’s ambitious growth objectives in the American market.

With over 25 years of executive experience at global tyre companies such as Continental Tires the Americas and Goodyear, Wagner has led growth and brand initiatives across the tyre, mobility, SaaS and material handling sectors. Her career began in Rio de Janeiro, advancing through leadership roles in Brazil and Latin America before moving to United States. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Universidade Santa Úrsula and an MBA from IBMEC Rio de Janeiro.

Ed Cho, CEO, Kumho Tire USA, said, "Carolina's arrival marks a pivotal moment for Kumho Tire. Her deep expertise in the tyre industry, combined with her proven ability to build integrated marketing strategies that deliver measurable results, makes her the ideal leader to drive our next chapter. We are confident that she will be a key force in taking Kumho Tire's brand positioning to the next level."

Wagner said, "I am incredibly excited to join Kumho Tire and work alongside the executive leadership team to continue elevating the brand in the US. The company has tremendous growth potential with high-quality new products on the roadmap that deliver on its performance without compromise mantra. I'm excited to execute integrated, data-driven strategies to increase brand awareness and ultimately fuel growth."

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Mahatma Gandhi University’s School of Polymer Science and Technology has announced the opening of admissions for its Executive M.Tech programme in Polymer Engineering and Nanotechnology for the 2026–27 academic year, targeting working professionals and industry-sponsored candidates seeking advanced technical specialisation.

The programme will be conducted at the Convergence Academia Complex, located on the second floor of the university campus at Priyadarshini Hills, P.O. Kottayam, Kerala. The university, which is graded as a Category 1 autonomous institution by the University Grants Commission (UGC), is positioning the course as an industry-aligned offering designed to bridge academic research and industrial application.

Admissions are currently open, with the last date for submitting applications set as 30 April  2026.

Designed For Industry Professionals

The Executive M.Tech programme is tailored specifically for working professionals, reflecting the growing demand for flexible, advanced education pathways within technical industries. Sponsored candidates from organisations, as well as direct applicants with relevant professional experience, are eligible to apply.

Candidates must hold either an M.Sc. or B.Tech degree in relevant science or engineering disciplines. While preference will be given to employed candidates, others may also be considered subject to seat availability.

The programme offers a total of 24 seats, including 20 allocated for Indian candidates and four reserved for international applicants, signalling the university’s intent to attract a diverse cohort.

Interdisciplinary Focus

The curriculum emphasises an interdisciplinary approach, combining Polymer Engineering, Nanotechnology and Materials Science. This structure reflects broader shifts within manufacturing and materials industries, where cross-domain expertise is increasingly critical.

Courses will be delivered by a mix of academic faculty and industry practitioners, ensuring exposure to both theoretical frameworks and real-world applications. The university highlights that this dual approach is aimed at equipping professionals with practical insights alongside advanced technical knowledge.

Programme Highlights

Among the key features of the course are its focus on industry relevance and its alignment with evolving technological demands. The programme is structured to support professionals in enhancing their capabilities without stepping away from their careers.

The university notes that the course is particularly suited to those looking to deepen expertise in polymer science and nanotechnology while remaining engaged in industrial roles.

Application Process

Applications for the programme must be submitted online via the official application form:
https://forms.gle/yfTeeevAVLzmuK8P9

Prospective candidates can access additional information through the School of Polymer Science and Technology’s website at spst.mgu.ac.in.

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TVS Srichakra Limited has assumed contractual rights and obligations from its US subsidiary under an agreement with Bristol Motor Speedway LLC.

The Madurai-based company said in a regulatory filing that it executed an assignment and assumption agreement on April 10, 2026 with Super Grip Corporation and Bristol Motor Speedway. Under the arrangement, TVS Srichakra takes over all rights, duties and obligations previously held by Super Grip Corporation under a suite licence agreement dated February 16, 2024 and a sponsorship agreement dated April 5, 2024.

The company will pay USD 1,033,250 in instalments over the remaining term of the agreements. No consideration is payable to Super Grip Corporation for the transfer.

The original terms of the licence and sponsorship agreements remain unchanged, and the arrangements are set to run until December 31, 2028.

TVS Srichakra said the move was intended to enhance the visibility and reach of its brands in global markets.

Super Grip Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, while Bristol Motor Speedway is an unrelated third party. The assignment between TVS Srichakra and Super Grip Corporation qualifies as a related party transaction and has been conducted on an arm’s length basis.

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Autopromotec has officially confirmed a new management structure, appointing Dr Enrica Lazzarini as Chief Executive Officer and Dr Guido Gambassi as Chief Strategy Officer. The decision, confirmed by the Board of Directors, reflects a strategy focused on leadership continuity by promoting experienced and respected internal figures already well established in the automotive equipment and aftermarket sector. The new leadership roles take effect from May 2026.

Under the new organizational chart, Dr Lazzarini was named Secretary General of AICA, the Italian Association of Automotive Equipment Manufacturers, on 5 March 2026. AICA jointly owns the Autopromotec trade fair with AIRP, the Italian Association of Tyre Retreaders. The next edition of the biennial exhibition is scheduled to take place from 26 to 29 May 2027, at the BolognaFiere exhibition centre.

Dr Gambassi now adds the CSO role to his existing responsibilities, which include serving as CEO of EditProm, the publisher of Pneurama magazine, as well as Secretary General of both AIRP and Federpneus, the National Association of Specialist Tyre Retailers. Federpneus operates its training workshop at the Casa Autopromotec headquarters.

The outgoing CEO and former AICA Secretary General, Renzo Servadei, who stepped down for personal reasons, has fully endorsed the new appointments. He has pledged his support for the upcoming 2027 edition to ensure strategic and organisational continuity across all entities responsible for the fair.

Dr Lazzarini said, “I welcome this new challenge with great enthusiasm and am honoured by the trust placed in me. Coordinating the next edition of Autopromotec will undoubtedly be stimulating, and I am certain that with the support of this team, which has been well-established for years, we will organise an event that lives up to the expectations of our exhibitors and visitors. The automotive sector is today increasingly characterised by structural and extremely dynamic innovations, which require the ability to react and analyse. Changes are happening so rapidly that it is now essential and fundamental to see and experience all the innovations first-hand, an opportunity that arises exclusively at events such as those made possible by Autopromotec.”

Dr Gambassi said, “What makes Autopromotec the most specialised trade fair in the sector is its ability to integrate innovations and market trends, thanks to its unique nature. Having a membership base and hosting so many organisations embedded within the fabric of the sector within its premises ensures that Autopromotec continues to be an international benchmark.”

Servadei said, “It is with great emotion and deep gratitude that I step down from both roles I have held to date, confident that the new management team at Autopromotec will carry forward the traditions that make our event unique whilst incorporating all the innovations the future holds. I am delighted that internal staff have been promoted, bringing with them their wealth of connections and relationships, which are our greatest asset: the ability to identify, understand and develop the needs of our exhibitors.”

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