Hana Financial Group has appointed Hana Bank’s deputy president Kim Byoung-ho as the new chief of its flagship bank.

The group’s executive candidate selection committee, after shortlisting three candidates and interviewing two, recommended Kim for the vacant president post, officials said Monday. The appointment was confirmed at the board of directors and shareholders’ meeting.

Kim has been serving as deputy president and acting president, since former chief Kim Jong-jun stepped down from his post last October pledging to add momentum to the merger of Hana Bank and Korea Exchange Bank.

“Having successfully filled posts in business strategy, finance and sales, new president Kim is well qualified to lead the bank’s domestic and overseas businesses,” said a spokesperson of the financial group.

He also proved himself to be mild-tempered and communicative over the past months as interim president, officials added.

Kim has a bachelor’s degree in English literature at Seoul National University and a master’s degree in business administration at U.C. Berkeley, before he joined the former body of Hana Financial Group in 1987.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)