One reason SK Hynix was able to achieve its record performance is HBM. Supporting advanced technology is important for the future. I will also keep this in mind and make technology-centered decisions.”
Ahn Ae-ra, Chair of the SK Hynix Board of Directors, expressed in an interview published in the SK Hynix newsroom today (10th) that she feels a heavy sense of responsibility. SK Hynix had appointed Ahn, a professor at the Sungkyunkwan University School of Law, as the new chair in March. She is the first female board chair in the company’s history, and SK Hynix expects to strengthen the diversity and independence of its board-centered management, alongside expanding the role of oversight and balance through more stringent management and evaluation to lay the foundation for SK Group’s ‘Board 2.0’.
Having served as a judge and lawyer, Ahn is currently a professor at Sungkyunkwan University and joined the SK Hynix board as an outside director in 2020. Over six years, she has contributed as an expert in establishing an advanced governance system and strengthening audit functions by serving on major contracts and providing legal advice related to technology, among other roles.
Regarding her appointment, Ahn stated, “The role of a legal expert is to ensure that the business prospers and remains on track, which carries its own sense of responsibility. Given SK Hynix’s track record, maintaining the current positive management approach is implied, and I will carefully make decisions in alignment with the management team.”
SK Hynix cited “strengthening AI leadership” as the reason for Ahn’s selection. In the AI era, a robust governance framework is essential for building intrinsic competitiveness, and the role of legal experts in managing legal and geopolitical issues on the global stage is crucial.
Ahn emphasized that an external chair’s presence is one element of assessing board independence and that a female chair is positive in terms of diversity. Since the board’s role becomes even more significant under the ‘Board 2.0’, she plans to maintain checks and balances by demanding and verifying information on items needing scrutiny as the chair.
With a focus on technology, Ahn is preparing mid-to-long-term strategies to respond to the AI era. “In SK Hynix’s case, the voices of technology experts are well reflected in the management, significantly influencing the company’s direction,” she noted, “Balancing expansion in investment and development with developmental speed is essential for preparing next-generation memory after HBM and is a key strategy for enhancing intrinsic AI competitiveness.”
Finally, Ahn expressed a vision she described as ‘Bigger Than Myself’, hoping all members will fulfill their roles and grow with the company. As technology improving human convenience continues to advance, stepping into the unknown each day, she anticipates a world where SK Hynix semiconductors become the foundation of all technology and innovation in daily life. The board will continue to strive as the highest decision-making body.”