Choon Byun

His method? To both lead and support, and, at the crux of it, to motivate. “You have to have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish and have unwavering focus to get there,” he said.

Choon Byun’s path to his current role is one that has taken him around the globe. Choon joined Smith in Houston as a purchasing agent in 1997, and then moved to sales before transferring to Hong Kong in 1998.

In 2000, he relocated to Seoul, Korea, where he opened a new office and served as Managing Director. Choon opened Smith’s Shanghai office in 2004 and was appointed Vice President, Northeast Asia in 2005. He was named President, Asia-Pacific in 2012, and Chairman of Asia in 2021.

Choon graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a BA in economics and psychology.