Yale School of Management - Charles Cholsoo Lho '85

"My Yale SOM experience was one of confusion during confusing times when the institution and I were both in search of a long term vision and identity. However, after some 25 years, I’ve come to realize that I’ve become the embodiment of what the MPPM degree originally envisioned, that of an effective manager dealing with both the public and private sectors. As I glance through the growing list of our alums and leaders, it’s inspiring to know that the Yale School of Management, subtly or directly, has had an indelible impact on our professional and personal lives."

Charles Lho is founding chairman & CEO of Amicus Group, a private holding company with diversified investments in distribution and marketing, real estate development, electronics, media services, and internet start-ups. Concurrently, he is also publisher of JoongAng Daily, Korea’s leading English newspaper in partnership with the International Herald Tribune.

Prior to his current responsibilities, Charles worked in the chairman’s secretariat of the Samsung Group responsible for U.S. market research & overseas investments (1982-1990). Other professional experience includes positions as researcher at the World Trade Organization (WTO formerly known as GATT 1979-1981) and as marketing manager at Proctor & Gamble Export & Special Operations (1981-1982), both headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Son of a career diplomat and former foreign and prime minister, Charles pursued all of his education abroad, completing his AB Honors in international relations at Stanford University (1975-1979) and MPPM as a Fulbright Scholar at Yale University’s School of Management (1983-1985). His PhD from Oxford University examined the Korean government’s unprecedented $3 billion loan to Moscow and the political and economic foundations upon which Russian-South Korean relations were established (1990-1996).

Married to a family of three energetic women, Young is the deputy director of Samsung Museum and is responsible for Samsung Group’s art interests and relationships with leading museums worldwide. Heesun '08, M. Ed '09 and Jackie '11 are both at Stanford University.

Charles currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the Yale School of Management as well as on the parents advisory board and International Development Council-Asia for Stanford University. In Korea, Charles serves as vice-chairman of Korea’s Yale Alumni Association and recently established Korea ‘s Yale SOM Alumni Association as it’s first president with 55 Yale SOM alums.