HyunChil Hong is Samsung Electronics new southwest Asia chief

Samsung Electronics Wednesday announced the appointment of HyunChil Hong as president of Southwest Asia headquarters, effective immediately, a company statement said here.

Hong replaces B.D. Park, who will now head sales and marketing for digital appliances business in headquarters, South Korea.

"In his new role based out of Gurgaon, India, Hong will lead all of Samsung Electronics' business in South West Asia that includes India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, as Samsung further strengthens its leadership in the region," the statement said.

Hong previously served as the president of Samsung Electronics Latin America, a sales subsidiary in Central America for three years. Prior to that, he headed Samsung Electronics' sales subsidiaries in Chile.

In his new role, he will leverage his experience in emerging business environment and operational excellence to continue to build Samsung Electronics' success in the Southwest Asia region, the company said.

Park has been serving in India since 2008, when he was appointed as head of the mobile and IT division of Samsung India Electronics Ltd (SIEL). In 2012, he was elevated to the position of president and chief executive officer, Samsung Southwest Asia, the statement added.