Ilyong, industrial merchant director  [ Return towards  Our employees' stories  ]

Starting up a business line while developing people in my team

Why did you join Air Liquide ?
During the interview, I realized Air Liquide met all criteria for my future employer: global leader, international mobility, and growth opportunities. Moreover, the fact that Air Liquide’s business covers most of manufacturing industries from semiconductor to steel was also fascinating because I wanted to obtain a global perspective on industries while developing my career. My first position was e-Business manager in Houston: it was a challenging mission in a US business environment I was very foreign to. After one year, I moved to on-site business development. Then, I took a position to start up a business line in Air Liquide Korea, which I’m currently leading!

What is your current position ?
I have P&L responsibility of Industrial Merchant business line serving customers’ gas demand by cylinders, bulk and on-site. Delivering monthly and yearly performance while preparing long-term growth engines are my daily mission. Recently, I’m spending more time developing people reporting to me and enhancing organization including adding new talents. Among daily activities, I lead on-site projects, where investment can go up to 10 million USD, from brainstorming technical solutions to preparing commercial proposal and to maintaining contacts with customers in order to listen to their needs directly.

What are you most satisfied about ?
When overcoming challenges specific to an assignment, I get to know more about myself and as result become more confident. Furthermore, Air Liquide also took the risk by allowing me to reach different positions, which I appreciate most.

Ilyong, Korean origin, based in Korea