Major Leadership Shift At Develon: Woohyun Kim To Become CEO

Develon North America is in a major evolution as it named its new CEO and president. Woohyun Kim is the name that is going to take the lead in the firm with high aims and dedication. 

He is one of the experienced industry personnel that fits best for the position in the company. Under his presidency, the company is expecting to get high performance and revenues in the market. 

Kim has worked at Develon for years

Kim has worked in the field for 25 years. He started working at Doosan Infracore in December 2001 as a human resources manager, shortly after graduating from Korea University that same year. 

He worked as a salesman, business manager, and human resources professional in Seoul, South Korea; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Atlanta, United States. 

He has extensive knowledge of Develon’s products and dealer network thanks to his lengthy employment at Doosan (now HD Hyundai Infracore). Kim has worked in the heavy-equipment industry for more than twenty years (25 years, to be exact) by the time he becomes CEO.

The journey of rebranding of Develon

Doosan’s original heavy-equipment line was rebranded under the new Develon name. Following the acquisition of Doosan Infracore by Hyundai Heavy Industries (now HD Hyundai) in 2021, the company formally abandoned the “Doosan” name and introduced “Develon” as its worldwide construction equipment brand in early 2023. 

The name is intended to evoke “develop onward”—a “nod to ongoing innovation,” according to Develon officials. (Speakers for the company point out that the pronunciation stresses the middle syllable, making it sound like the word “develop” to indicate ongoing progress.) The Develon brand is actually a part of HD Hyundai Infracore, which has its headquarters close to Atlanta, Georgia, in North America. 

With more than 200 dealer locations currently operating in both countries, the U.S./Canada operation supports a sizable dealer network. Develon NA maintains a special customization plant in Savannah, GA, which configures equipment to customer needs, as well as regional parts distribution centers in Atlanta and the Pacific Northwest. 

Kim actually oversaw commercial operations and sales planning while assisting with the opening of that Savannah plant.

Is it the best time for Kim to take the lead?

The timing of Kim’s appointment is crucial for the Hyundai heavy-equipment division. Hyundai announced in the middle of 2025 that it would combine its two construction-equipment businesses, HD Hyundai Infracore and HD Hyundai Heavy Construction Equipment, into a single new business known as “HD Construction Equipment” in the beginning of 2026. 

Importantly, though, the business emphasized that Hyundai and Develon will continue to operate independently, each with a well-established dealer network. This point was emphasized by Kim himself, who told industry media that the Develon and Hyundai brands will continue to be strong, independent forces in the market. And that even though this merger creates a more powerful global entity, we are committed to ensuring stability and continuity for our dealers and customers in North America. He also mentioned that dealers will continue to work with the same staff.

Under Kim’s direction, it is anticipated that all of these elements, along with Develon’s more than 200 North American dealers, will improve the brand’s standing in the marketplace.

Footnote

Kim says he’s excited to build on the momentum Develon has created so far. He stated that he “looks forward to growing the Develon brand and building on our success in North America” when he made his new role public. 

With the support of Develon’s dealer network, he pledged to continue providing “reliable and productive heavy and compact equipment,” pointing out that the company has made “significant progress in recent years, changing the brand and expanding our construction equipment lineup.”

With a seasoned executive leading the company and a distinct emphasis on product development and dealer support, Develon North America is setting itself up for future growth in the construction equipment market.

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