Park Yong-maan, chairman of Doosan Group, is expected to head the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industries, to help represent the voice of the larger companies in Korea.

The chamber on Monday held a meeting to nominate Park to succeed Sohn Kyung-shik, the embattled CJ Group co-chairman who stepped down earlier this month before his term was over. Park accepted the nomination. 

The KCCI is one of the nation’s five largest groups that mainly speak on the behalf of local companies both big and small. The chamber also boasts a nationwide network as it overlooks more than 70 regional offices.

The 58-year-old will be the fourth in his family, after his father, the late Park Doo-byung who founded Doosan, and his brother Park Yong-sung, to hold the chairman position.

Ever since he was named vice president of Doosan Group in 1995 in charge of corporate planning and strategies, Park has served as the architect of the company’s mergers and acquisitions. During his term, he handled up to 17 such cases, industry sources said.

He also led the restructuring plans to sell assets including the company headquarters and Oriental Brewery.

In 2001, he went in the opposite direction, this time to snap up viable partners that included Doosan Heavy Industries, Doosan Infracore, Doosan Babcock and DII.

All this resulted in a major shift of direction for Doosan, transforming it into an infrastructure-based business from its previous presence in the liquor and foodstuff industries, all in less than 20 years.

Meanwhile, Kim Young-tae, head of energy-oriented Daesung Group, reportedly requested for the chamber to nominate Park for the job.

Both Park and Kim had earlier been cited as the top candidates. Kim, citing his age, said he would like a younger executive in the seat, adding he would do his best to assist Park. Kim is 71 this year.

By Kim Ji-hyun (jemmie@heraldcorp.com)