He has all offers to the millions of Indian customers. From Dhoom Macha De to LG challenges, he has adopted all sound formulae to woo the great Indian middle class. He is an expat success story in India, who has made Indian customers falling in love with LG's symbol of the smiling face. Kwang-Ro Kim, Managing Director, LG Electronics, India, first came to India to India in 1997. The Korean giant was still finding its feet in India, having called off its joint venture with the CK Birla group.

Nobody was willing to bet on the brand or the man. Within a period of six years, Kim proved all his detractors wrong. He became a top 10 Manager of the Korean giant and turned LG into a top consumer electronics brand in India. Kim, now the managing director of LG Electronics India, has always been bullish about India. In an interview in 2004, he said, "LG has identified India as its most important market. In fact, in the next 10 years, we see it becoming more important than even China in our scheme of things." Sure, LG is a big brand and that helps in building up the market. But the brand alone cannot achieve what LG has achieved in India under Kim.

So, what sets Kim apart? Hard work. Despite a niggling back pain, Kim still goes on field visits thrice a week. LG had reasons to appoint Kim as head of its Indian operations. They knew what it would take to get a slice of the Indian market. Kim has an experience of over 30 years with LG and has proven to become as an effective leader with the high levels of integrity and honesty. Prior to his assignment in India, he was posted in the United Arab Emirates, the US, Panama (handling Mexico and Brazil from there) and Germany.

He came to India with the vision of making LG the No. 1 consumer electronics and home appliance brand by creating the best value for customers based on marketing and product leadership. What set him apart was his ability to diagnose current trends in the market, products, people, internal processes which has made LG the youngest yet the fastest growing consumer durable company in the country today with one finger on the pulse of the consumer. He also trusted his Indian managers and gave them full empowerment since the time of LG's inception in India.

He managed to synergise with the brilliant Indian minds to evolve LG into a global company with a local culture. Looking back to his stay in India, he says, "I think we have now built a great platform in India. We have the best trade network, the best manufacturing facilities and the best employees. A good foundation for business in India has been laid. It is now time to take off in a big way. It is true not just for LG but also the entire consumer electronics and home appliances industry." He relaxes by swinging golf clubs. And his recipe for success? "To be successful in a country you have to go out and enjoy the place. I'm in love with India and its culture." True. With Kwang-Ro Kim at the helm, nothing is impossible for LG in India.