President Kim Ki-bum of KDB Daewoo Securities Co. said he will maintain the securities firm’s tradition as a leading securities firm in Korea in his inaugural speech, recalling his return to the securities firm after a decade-long absence.

The new CEO said he is thrilled to be back at his old company where he can still feel the fragrance of its unique tradition. Kim said he will try to further solidify the position of the company in the securities market and let it become a global investment bank based on the strategy built on its lofty position in the business.

The company’s overseas operations will be further strengthened through diversification into private investment and private equity areas, among others, along with the IB and brokerage businesses, the new CEO said.

Kim said he counts on synergy for Daewoo Securities as a member of the KDB Financial Group, a pioneer of Korea’s IB sector, to speed up its international financial operations diversification.

Kim, who got a master’s degree in business at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, entered Daewoo Securities in 1990 and held various key jobs for the company including the manager of the international business operations department, president of the Hungarian subsidiary, president of Daewoo Securities London, and president of Meritz Securities in Korea, among others.

Daewoo Securities is a leading full-service investment firm offering a wide range of financial services in South Korea, such as securities trading and brokerage, underwriting, asset management, and international corporate finance. The company has a stronghold in the brokerage market and is a viable top IB player in the Korean market.

Since its establishment in September 1970, the company has grown to include 3,261 employees in 129 branches and six overseas networks. Today, it ranks among the nation’s top domestic brokers, with the highest market share in brokerage business at around 9 percent in terms of commission revenue. The company also has its competitive advantage in underwriting, and is moving further to build a strong track record in principal investments, etc. Also, it sustains the highest level of net figures in the Korean Securities Industry. In close cooperation with KDB Financial Group affiliates, room remains for greater synergy ahead.