Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Virginia-based StarKist Co. has named a new company president and chief executive officer, who will take over the leadership post, as of Jan. 01, 2023, from out-going boss, Andrew Choe.

In a brief statement released late Monday afternoon, StarKist announced that Mr. Chae-Ung Um has been named the new Co-President & CEO, and his first day will be Nov. 01 this year. He will be President & CEO of the company at the start of the new year 2023, on Jan. 01.

According to the statement, Mr. Um joins StarKist from LG Electronics where he was Corporate Senior Vice President — Procurement Strategy, Digital Procurement Transformation & General Procurement.

The statement also says that Choe will continue to serve as President & CEO until Dec. 31 this year, and will work with Mr. Um “to ensure a successful transition through the end of the year.”

Choe — who visited American Samoa a few times in the past years — has been President & CEO since November of 2014.

StarKist corporate public affairs office says that it has no other comments on this matter, aside from the press statement.

StarKist Co. owns and operates StarKist Samoa Inc, cannery the largest private employer in American Samoa.  And the two companies are owned by South Korea-based Dongwon Industries Co., Ltd