LG Electronics
Please fill in the blank (This is a very important part of the interview – to know why you are interested):
List 2-3 reason why you are interested in this industry?
____________________________________________________________________________________
List 2-3 reasons why you are interested in LG Electronics?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
List 2-3 reasons why you are interested in this position?
____________________________________________________________________________________
General Company Information:
LG Electronics (LGE) makes the products that have tech-savvy consumers chomping at the bit in the
kitchen, in the media room, and elsewhere. Its 75 subsidiaries worldwide design and manufacture display
and media products (TVs, VCRs, plasma display panels), home appliances (refrigerators, washing
machines, microwaves, air conditioners), and telecommunications devices (wireless phones, handsets,
switchboards). LGE owns Zenith Electronics and launched a joint venture with Philips Electronics (LP
Displays). After Asia, LGE generates most of its revenue from sales in North America. LGE established a
North American headquarters in 2004. Founded in 1958 as Goldstar, the firm is a member of South
Korea's LG Group.
LGE in 2008 is focusing on boosting its mobile communication handset business and enhancing its share
of the LCD TV market. In 2007 the company developed the Shine phone as a follow-up product to its
popular Chocolate phone. The company is looking to sell about 20% more cell phones in 2008. A leading
maker of cellular telephones, LGE partnered with Italian fashion house Prada to develop a mobile phone
that launched in 2007 in Europe.
The company also is concentrating on solar cell technology. In September 2008 LGE partnered with
Germany's Conergy AG in a joint venture that will begin to manufacture solar cells by 2009. As part of the
agreement LGE will acquire a 75% stake in Conergy's Frankfurt solar cell plant.
LGE is investing heavily in brand marketing in a bid to position itself as one of the world's top three
electronics brands by 2010. Its goal is to sell 8 million LCD TV units, as well as 2.5 million PDP TV units.
LGE also is investing in peddling its commercial air conditioners, drum washing machines, and side-byside refrigerators. (The company is considered a potential buyer of GE's appliance unit, which was put on
the block in May 2008.)
To help achieve its goal by 2010, LGE appointed aggressive and longtime leader Yong Nam as its vice
chairman and CEO in January 2007. Nam joined LGE in 1976 and has held positions in strategic business,
telecommunications, and multimedia.
It's also partnering with other suppliers in the industry to extend its reach into other niches. In 2008 the
company announced that it would create a device that will allow Netflix users to watch downloaded
movies on their TV screens.
Financial Data:
Company Type Public - Exchange: Korea
2006 Sales (mil.)
$24,653.6
1-Year Sales Growth
5.8%
2006 Net Income (mil.)
$226.3
1-Year Net Income Growth -2006 Employees
29,264
Key People:
Vice Chairman and CEO
Yong Nam
President and CTO
Woo Hyun Paik
EVP, CFO, and Director
David D. H. Jung
EVP and Chief Marketing Officer
Dermot J. M. Boden
EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer Reginald J. Bull
Products/Operations:
2006 Sales
% of total
North America 24
China & Asia Pacific 23
Europe 19
Korea 16
Central & South America 8
Former Soviet republics 5
Middle East & Africa 5
Total 100
2006 Sales
% of total
Digital display 31
Digital appliances 28
Mobile communications 26
Digital media 15
Total 100
Current News:
LG Electronics to build two solar cell lines [Xinhua News Agency]
(21 Oct 2008 00:30:00 EDT)
South Korea's LG Electronics Inc., the world's fourth biggest handset maker, said Tuesday it plans to build two
solar cell lines by investing 220 billion won. The company said it will convert one of its plasma display lines in
its Gumi complex, about 260 kilometers southeast of Seoul, into two solar cell lines with an annual capacity of
120 megawatts each.
LG sells over 10 million handset in N. America [Xinhua News Agency]
(21 Oct 2008 00:07:00 EDT)
South Korea's LG Electronics Inc., the world's fourth-largest mobile phone maker, said Tuesday it had sold over
10 million units of handsets in the North American market in the third quarter. According to the company, the
mobile phone sales reached 10.04 million units during the July-September period, compared with 9.1 million
units in the second quarter.
Alltel Wireless Lets Customers Move to Their Own Beat With the LG Rhythm [PR Newswire]
(16 Oct 2008 07:30:00 EDT)
Alltel Wireless, America's largest network, and LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. announced today that
the LG Rhythm is available in Alltel retail stores and online at shopalltel.com. The LG Rhythm was created with
music enthusiasts in mind and is equipped with one of the most advanced music systems available.
Top Competitors:

Panasonic Corp

Philips Electronics

Sony