Hankook Tire Leadership Updates Across North American Sales & Marketing Team

Hankook Tire & Technology announced several executive leadership updates at its North American Headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. The new appointments across its North American sales and marketing organization reinforce the company’s commitment to long-term growth in both passenger and commercial tire markets, stated company officials in a press release.

New Executive Leadership Appointments at Hankook Tire

Kyuwang (Ken) Cho will serve as senior vice president of North America Marketing, transitioning from his dual role overseeing PC/LT sales and marketing. Previously, Cho served as vice president of global sales for Hankook Tire in Korea, bringing over 25 years of experience at Hankook to his new role.

K.C. Jensen has been named vice president of U.S. PC/LT sales, expanding his responsibilities from the Western region to a national scope. Jensen joined Hankook Tire in 2018 and has been instrumental in leading strategic initiatives and enhancing growth strategies in the U.S. market, noted the release.

Mark Roe returns to Hankook Tire as vice president of U.S. TBR sales, including the replacement and OE sales team, where he will be overseeing strategic growth and customer engagement. With more than four decades of experience in the commercial tire industry, Roe will focus on dealer, fleet and OE manufacturers. Previously, Roe held leadership positions at American Omni Trading Company, Hankook Tire, and, most recently, vice president of sales at Ralson Tire North America.

“These leadership appointments reflect Hankook’s strong momentum in North America,” said Rob Williams, president of Hankook Tire America Corp. “Ken, K.C. and Mark each bring exceptional industry experience, strategic focus, and leadership qualities to their roles. Together, they will help elevate our presence across both consumer and commercial channels, and support our long-term growth ambitions in the U.S.”

Other Leadership Changes at Hankook Tire

The company also announced other leadership additions within its regional sales teams:

• Shaun Prott has been promoted from key account manager, PC/LT, to regional director of PC/LT sales, West. Prott first joined Hankook in 2015 and brings over 20 years of industry experience, with a proven track record of managing nationwide accounts and driving new business opportunities. Prott previously held positions at National Tire Warehouse and Peerless Tire Company, underscoring his strong leadership and sales experience.
• Travis Jones has rejoined Hankook as regional director of PC/LT sales, North-East. He brings extensive industry experience, having held sales leadership roles with Michelin and Pirelli, where he held multi-product line strategies.
• Brian Ford has been promoted from key account manager, TBR, to regional director of TBR sales, West. Ford joined Hankook in 2021 as a territory manager following a tenure at Les Schwab Tires. In 2023, he was elevated to key account manager, where he oversaw several of the larger commercial accounts.

“These moves speak to the strength of our internal talent pipeline and ability to attract top talent, and our continued investment in customer relationships,” Williams added. “Shaun, Travis and Brian all bring deep knowledge of their markets and proven ability to grow key partnerships.”