Faces of Lubricants – James Hong
May 30, 2018
James Hong is a dynamic team player with a passion to help and learn from others. Whether he is working with customers to find solutions, sharing knowledge about Ingevity products or spending time with his family, James is constantly leaving a positive mark. Relationship building is second nature to James. He began his career as a process engineer in the semi-conductor industry and later transferred to a commercial role gaining more face-to-face interaction with customers. For more than four years, he has worked as an industrial specialties and pavement technology sales manager for South Korea. Prior to joining Ingevity, he worked for Applied Materials, 3M and Dow Corning. He currently resides in Seoul, Korea with his wife and two daughters.
What’s one of your favorite memories from a Lubricants project?
One of favorite memories was working with the Lubricants team to resolve a quality issue with a key customer in Korea. Our team was eager to work together and helped minimize negative impacts from the issue at hand. In the end, the customer was extremely impressed with our process and customer service, eventually leading to a stronger relationship with growth opportunities.
What are you most excited about for the future of the Lubricants team?
Above all, I am most excited about our growing team. The Lubricants group is very motivated to grow, and I look forward to learning more about the ever-changing industry.
Name one thing about your work that gets you out of bed in the morning.
Just after saying good morning to my daughters, I make a conscious effort to enjoy the day and embrace any challenges as opportunities for growth.
What does your typical day look like as the South Korea sales manager for the Lubricants team?
I spend a lot of time traveling and visiting customers. I value listening to customers’ needs and working together to find solutions. I enjoy having “belly-to belly” meetings with customers as often as possible.
What is your idea of happiness?
Maintaining balance is my key to happiness. I am always doing my best to keep my career and personal life well-balanced.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love hiking in the mountains and South Korea has many amazing trails. I’ve always enjoyed exploring the outdoors with my family.
What does success mean to you?
To me, if I can enjoy my daily life with my family then I am truly successful.
What is your life motto?
The future can always be better than the present.
What’s the last adventure you went on?
Our family took a road trip from the Grand Canyon to California and enjoyed exploring the American landscape. During the car ride, we had quality bonding time and it helped me learn more about my two daughters.
