SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won instructed chief executives of affiliate companies to promptly normalize management on Tuesday, a day after other chaebol chiefs announced their business plans for the new year.

The nation’s third largest conglomerate in asset value put off its annual year-end personnel reshuffle and finalizing of investment plans for 2012 as Chey and his younger brother went through prosecutorial investigation on charges of embezzlement to make up for losses in futures trading. Vice chairman Chey Jae-won was put behind bars last week.

“SK faces the risk of lagging behind in global competition as our investment and recruitment plans as well as organizational shakeup have been delayed,” Chey said in a luncheon with the CEOs of affiliate firms Tuesday.

“Each company should complete these as soon as possible, and begin aggressive management by increasing investment and employment.”

SK Group plans to announce its investment and recruitment plans as early as later this week, an SK official said.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)