Min Heejin, founder of HYBE sublabel ADOR, home to NewJeans, has stepped down as CEO of the company. HYBE announced the news on Tuesday, August 27.
According to multiple reports by South Korean press, including Korea JoongAng Daily and Yonhap News Agency, the decision was announced during a board meeting, during which fellow board member and human resources management specialist Kim Juyoung was also appointed as ADOR's new CEO.
In a statement obtained and translated by Soompi, an ADOR spokesperson said Kim Juyoung “will be responsible for stabilizing and reorganizing ADOR’s internal structure” as the company's new CEO.
Though Min Heejin will no longer be ADOR's CEO, she will still be involved in the company. The music executive will reportedly remain a staff member, maintaining her position on the company's board of directors and producing music for NewJeans. NewJeans, who debuted in 2022, are the label's only artist at the moment.
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The statement also said, “ADOR’s internal organization will now separate production and management. This is in line with the multi-label operation principle that has consistently been applied to all other labels, although ADOR had previously been an exception where the CEO oversaw both production and management. With this personnel and organizational restructuring, ADOR plans to fully support the growth and greater success of NewJeans.”
Per Soompi, a representative for Min Heejin told Korean media that “the decision to dismiss CEO Min Hee Jin was made unilaterally without her consent." The person also said the decision to have Min Heejin still produce for NewJeans “was not discussed with her and is a unilateral notification from the company.”
