Sung-Joo Kim is the Founder of Sungjoo Group, which consists of Sungjoo International Ltd. (SJI), Sungjoo Merchandising Inc. (SMI) and Sungjoo Design Tech & Distribution Inc. (SDD). She is also Chairperson of MCM Group/MCM Products AG./MCM Lederwaren GmbH, for the global business.

Ms. Kim has been involved in the fashion industry for more than 20 years, beginning her career at Bloomingdale’s in 1985 under the direct supervision of Mr. Marvin Traub, the legendary retailer and ex-Chairman of Bloomingdale’s. Since 1990, Sungjoo Group has successfully launched several globally renowned brands and retailing operation such as Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Sonia Rykiel and Marks & Spencer as an exclusive franchisee, running more than 100 stores in Korea. The company has also acquired MCM’s global business, distributing to more than 150 retailers in 40 countries worldwide. The estimated gross annual sales of the group in 2007 are approximately 200 Million USD.

Ms. Kim studied at Yonsei University, Korea (BA in Theology/Sociology), Amherst College, USA (BA in Sociology), London School of Economics, UK (MSc in International Relations) and Harvard University, USA (MTS in Business Ethics & Economics). She was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree (in Humane Letters) by Amherst College, USA.

As one of the most celebrated businesswomen in Asia, Ms. Kim has been featured in numerous publications and media broadcasts including Forbes, Asiaweek, CNN, CNBC and the BBC. She was selected as one of the “1997 Global Leaders of Tomorrow” by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and was chosen to represent one of “The 20 Most Powerful International Businesswomen” by Working Woman (New York, 1999) and as one of the “7 Most Powerful Women in Asia” by Asiaweek (Hong Kong, 2001). In addition, CNN nominated her as one of the “New Century Leaders” for its The Best of Asia news feature and she was ranked among the “Top 50 Women to Watch” by the Wall Street Journal (Global Edition, 2004). She was named Honoree of the Year (2007) by the Asian American Federation in New York.

As a successful businesswoman with a strong sense of Corporate Social Responsibility, Ms. Kim considers serving society as one of her utmost duties in her personal and corporate life. This is reflected in her active involvement in several non-profit charity and cultural organizations including Save the Children and Asia House UK, and many others. In addition, she firmly believes in the power of women to improve global society and is actively involved in many prominent women’s organizations including the Global Summit of Women (USA), Women’s International Networking (Switzerland), Women’s Leadership Board (Harvard University, USA), and several other initiatives.

A short collection of autobiographical essays (English title: “Wake Up Call - A Beautiful Outcast”) was published in Korea in May 2000. It quickly became a bestseller.