A British princess visited the opening of Hankook's regional headquarters
The British arm of Hankook marked the opening of its new headquarters, Hankook House, in Daventry (Northamptonshire), with Princess Anne, sister of King Charles III and patron of the international development organisation Transaid, which works to improve the lives of people in sub-Saharan Africa through transport solutions, in attendance. Hankook has partnered with Transaid for 19 years, undertaking various initiatives, such as organising charity bike rides and funding the production of locally-built bicycle ambulances, which provide vital access to medical care in remote communities. To date, the company has raised over £136,000 in support of Transaid.
In the UK, Hankook established a subsidiary in 1993, and has since demonstrated "stable and sustained growth due to increasing demand for the company's premium tyre range". Hankook House is strategically located at the heart of the UK's logistics 'Golden Triangle', with direct access to the A45, M1 and M45, enabling the company to expand its distribution network nationwide and enhance customer service.
Princess Anne's visit included a meeting with Chang Yool Han, President and COO of Hankook Tire Europe, and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to mark the creation of the new headquarters.
"The opening of Hankook House is a significant milestone, which underlines our commitment to further growth in the UK market," said Chang Yool Han, Managing Director of Hankook Tyre UK. "Demand for our premium products continues to grow, and our new facility will expand our logistics capabilities, accelerate technology innovation, and reaffirm our commitment to providing high-quality products and service, as well as following sustainable development principles. We are also proud to continue supporting Transaid's vital work and contributing to the promotion of safe and environmentally-friendly transport solutions in the UK and worldwide."
Caroline Barber, Chief Executive of Transaid, added that "it was a great honour to host the Princess, and her presence not only made the day a special occasion, but also highlighted the strength of our long-standing partnership with Hankook".
"We are grateful to Hankook for their ongoing support, which plays a vital role in improving road safety and increasing access to healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa," she said.