Former Mastermind To Chaebol Son-in-Law

Chapter 21

Eyes Filled with Interest

【Taiwan SolarView, registration of Patent for Innovative Core Technology in Semiconductor Inspection! Highly praised for surpassing the limitations of electrical inspection...】

【US Investment Firm FOURGMA Decides to Invest 50 Billion KRW in Taiwan's SolarView! Projected profits to be at least tenfold in the future...】

【Rizeburn Drug Case: Real Club Owner Mr. Min ○○ and 14 key members officially indicted today! For the 31 people detained on drug distribution and use charges, the prosecution's further investigation is expected...】

【Opposition lawmaker Jeong Hyun-seok urges son Jeong ○○, involved in the Rizeburn drug affair, to turn himself in! He apologizes for his wrong choice and promises thorough cooperation with the investigation... Other related parties also promise cooperation with the investigation...】

【Global Idol DDS found to have no involvement in the Rizeburn drug scandal... Whistleblower departed overseas immediately after press report...】

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The noisy incidents were quickly settled.

As In-hyuk was reading through such articles, his phone rang.

【Norman: The SolarView issue is finalized with FOURGMA, and I'll process my resignation soon and then head over to Korea.】

It was a message from Norman McGrath, who had gone back to Taiwan.

【Gordon: If you want to make money, you should move quickly.】

【Norman: Aren't you curious how much trouble I went through because the deal with Mirage Castle fell apart?】

He was referring to the company they originally planned to transfer SolarView to.

【Gordon: Not particularly. Also, I'm busy right now, so only contact me if it's urgent.】

After abruptly ending the conversation, In-hyuk checked that no further replies had come and shook his head.

Norman McGrath. In the original timeline, he had outstanding capabilities, and they had done business together quite often.

However, his extreme greed for money and habit of always weighing benefits when his profit was large made him dangerous.

For that reason, In-hyuk only dealt with Norman McGrath when it was something only he could handle; otherwise, it was rare for them to do business together.

'Unlike before, I've leashed him now, so he shouldn't act rashly.'

Mumbling that to himself, he checked the time and got up.

"I'll be off to the team leader meeting."

Everyone nodded slightly.

In-hyuk simply grabbed his tablet and went to the meeting room to take a seat.

Soon, the others entered as well.

Team 1 Leader Kim Seong-ho, team 2 Leader Go Jin-woo, and finally, the Division Leader Choo In-ho of the Equity Investment department.

"Let's start the Q3 management meeting."

From the start, team leaders collectively handled customer equity management rights and took responsibility. The division head merely received reports and was only shared information.

So, these meetings were more like discussions than sessions where major decisions were made.

However, the looks Kim Seong-ho and Go Jin-woo gave In-hyuk were not pleasant.

Both had become team leaders in their forties, having risen from manager posts; whereas In-hyuk, just for being a Taeshin family son-in-law, had clinched that position at age thirty-two.

In this strange atmosphere, each began their reports, and then it was In-hyuk's turn.

He distributed the prepared report materials to each team leader.

As the team leaders quickly read over the documents, their expressions stiffened.

"What exactly are you trying to do here?"

It was Team 1 Leader Kim Seong-ho who spoke up before In-hyuk even began presenting.

"Is something wrong?"

"These newly acquired clients here... aren't they customers currently entrusted with our Team 1?"

On the surface, the plan looked as though Team 3 was poaching clients.

But In-hyuk, his expression calm, looked at him and replied:

"The clients reached out to me first with a request. And we're talking about additional entrusted funds, not existing ones. Is it a problem to invest new money?"

Team 2's clients were included as well, so Go Jin-woo had also stiffened like Kim Seong-ho.

"In the end, are you saying Team 3 is just stealing customers from other teams?"

"Simply put, we're sharing. I explained this thoroughly during my consultations with the clients. And they all said there was no issue."

Equity Investment Team 3's rate of return soared sharply from the latter part of Q1 into Q2 this year.

Although the absolute amount of funds they managed was much less than other teams, the growth rate was so high that it was almost a pity larger funds hadn't flowed in.

Such news, naturally, spread quickly by word of mouth among clients.

Consequently, clients managed by Kim Seong-ho's and Go Jin-woo's teams made many inquiries as well.

But since neither could just sit by and watch their clients leave, they tried their utmost to soothe and persuade them.

However, they could not block enquiries eventually being made to Team 3.

"Even so, shouldn't this have been shared before it was decided?"

"Well, I'm sharing now, aren't I? And, of course, I also notified the clients that this could only proceed starting in Q3 after the higher up's approval."

In-hyuk had not broken any procedures.

Even if he'd proceeded as is, there would have been no issue.

After all, clients naturally go to the place producing the best return.

If the other teams lost out, it was only because they lacked ability.

Go Jin-woo, who wanted to press the point further, clamped his mouth shut, and Kim Seong-ho spoke up again.

"If we say no, will you drop it?"

"Yes, that's the intention. But... you'll have to bear the complaints from the clients."

The two looked displeased.

Then Division Leader Choo In-ho, who had quietly been listening, spoke up.

"Must we block clients' requests merely to prevent internal team disputes? In the end, if we can increase deposits and profit, isn't that good for the company?"

"......."

"......."

Kim Seong-ho and Go Jin-woo could not answer.

Regardless of performance, they did not want to bow their heads to the much younger, parachuted-in team leader, In-hyuk.

Choo In-ho let out a sigh.

"So, are the two of you opposed to Team 3 jointly acquiring existing clients?"

"......."

"......."

Still, silence.

If they said they opposed it, they would be admitting they cared more for pride than the company's profit.

"Why aren't you answering?"

In-hyuk, watching the situation, looked on with interest.

'Is Division Leader Choo trying to use this opportunity to rein in the team leaders?'

In the Equity Investment division, team leaders have significant authority but also take on great responsibility.

The division head mostly managed and found it hard to control such team leaders.

Choo In-ho had originally been headhunted from another firm.

Naturally, veterans Kim Seong-ho and Go Jin-woo, who had grown up within Taeshin Asset Management, did not follow him easily and, to this day, often bypassed him to speak directly with certain executives.

But both expected Choo In-ho to mediate and resolve the situation smoothly. Choo In-ho, of course, understood their intentions.

"So, will you accept for the good of the company?"

As he pressed them, the two leaders' faces twisted.

Their tightly sealed lips seemed about to push all responsibility onto the division head.

Choo In-ho was aware of this and sighed lightly through his nose.

"If you dislike this and that, then I'm seriously troubled. Or should we ask the clients managed by each team? Tell them to choose one side instead of overlapping management."

Suddenly, both turned pale.

The answer would be obvious.

Clients large enough for A-grade designation, with at least ten billion won in assets, would just go to wherever provided the best returns.

A mass exodus of such clients to Team 3 would mean Teams 1 and 2 would lose corresponding say and authority.

Executives who backed the two would also find that outcome unwelcome—a dilemma indeed.

"Well, that's..."

Kim Seong-ho trailed off, unable to retreat or advance against Choo In-ho's immovable question.

"If there's nothing more to say, I will begin meetings with the clients as acting under my division head authority. Of course, I will also fully explain the risks associated with Team 3's methods."

With that, nobody could add anything, and everyone stood up. In-hyuk watched the scene with growing interest.

As he was about to leave together, choo In-ho addressed him.

"There's more we need to discuss. Team Leader Kang, come to my office."

"... All right."

In-hyuk followed Choo In-ho out of the meeting room.

The other two team leaders, heading into the hallway, looked at the scene with evident displeasure but slyly exchanged glances with In-hyuk as he briefly glanced back.

'Things didn't go their way, so now it's a headache for them.'

Arriving at Choo In-ho's office, In-hyuk took a seat.

"I have coffee and tea—would you like some?"

"I'm fine."

Choo In-ho brought over a lukewarm glass of water and some documents.

"I read the project plan that came with your Q3 business plan. Besides personal asset management, it discusses corporate entrusted investment and M&A... When did you start thinking about this?"

At Taeshin Asset Management, they fundamentally dealt with personal assets and, for corporations, handled bonds and real estate only as alternative investments.

Corporate fund business was of a different scale and context, hard to tackle with the current structure.

"I designed the plan while improving results. Taeshin Asset Management can't keep growing just by maintaining and recruiting private clients. There's a limit."

Choo In-ho nodded; he couldn't disagree.

"The proposal is solid, but the scale for personal and corporate business is different. It's especially true in practice. Moreover, as far as I know, you only worked sales and support sections when you were at the trading arm."

No matter how capable one appears, real expertise and experience are necessary to perform skillfully.

Choo In-ho was questioning whether In-hyuk could bridge that gap.

"Also, by adding BPR (business process reengineering) and PEST (external environment analysis), we can achieve a competitive advantage."

"You're saying you want to do corporate management?"

"It's a step Taeshin Asset Management must go through to avoid becoming stagnant."

With that resolute statement, choo In-ho turned again to the project plan resting on the table.

He'd realized upon first reading that it contained material too detailed for someone who had just dabbled.

If he hadn't known the author was In-hyuk, he'd have thought it was written by an experienced fund professional.

"... Did Team Leader Kang really write this personally?"

"Yes."

"Have you discussed this with the CEO yet?"

He was asking because Taeshin Asset Management's CEO was In-hyuk's wife, Tae Ju-ha.

"No. I haven't shared it with her. Even if I have a private relationship with the CEO, it would violate company hierarchy if I did."

Choo In-ho smiled slowly at that.

"Someone considerate enough to think that still requested the CEO not put a brake on Team 3's work?"

This referenced a prior conversation where they had discussed mutual conditions.

"Each of us wanted something. But, division Head, have you been on the CEO's side from the beginning?"

The current division head had been brought in by the previous CEO, Jeon Joon-seok.

Naturally, most expected he'd be on that line, yet he acted at Tae Ju-ha's request, which was odd.

"I move according to company interests and needs."

"I don't think the executives see it that way."

Currently, there were four main factions within Taeshin Asset Management.

Head Office Chairman Tae Gun-seung, successors Tae Seok-hyun and Tae Seok-ho, and finally, Tae Ju-ha.

Though Tae Ju-ha held the CEO title, her practical power measured by shareholding was the weakest in the Taeshin Group.

"I don't make it obvious since it's a sensitive topic."

"I can see why."

"In any case, I'll discuss the plan properly with the CEO. But frankly, the odds are slim. The Upper Office won't like it."

As In-hyuk had said, the "stagnant water" referred to most of Taeshin Asset Management's executives.

Since they had held their spots for years, they were people who consistently favored caution over innovation.

Naturally, they resisted aggressive moves for the company.

"Still, I'm counting on you. Ah, as for the corporate client for entrusted investment, it's already been decided."

"Really? Which company is it?"

"They've requested confidentiality until it's approved, so I can't say yet."

Concluding the discussion, In-hyuk left Choo In-ho's office.