Tire industry veteran Jaiheon (Jack) Kim passed away on Oct. 7.

Kim, who worked 36 years in the industry, spent much of his professional career with Hankook Tire before joining Tire Consultants Group as a strategic business associate.

During his time with Hankook, Kim was part of the planning team that brought the tiremaker to the United States in 1982. In various roles with the company Kim helped Hankook grow in the U.S. market. He served as Hankook Tire’s marketing manager, team manager for North American and European markets, general manager for Hankook Tire America Corp., as well as executive vice president and chief operating officer for Hankook Tire.

“Jack was a valued colleague and a good friend,” said Skip Viola, president of Tire Consultants Group. “He was the consummate executive who worked tirelessly to succeed, and he did on many levels. His presence will be sorely missed by all of us at Tire Consultants Group, and by all of us in the tire industry who had the pleasure of knowing him.”