Top Things To Know About AWS’ New Channel Chief

Here's what CRN has learned about Doug Yeum, who this week became AWS’ head of worldwide channels and alliances -- the top-ranked cloud computing provider’s highest-ranking channel executive role

Doug (Dong Hoon) Yeum officially became Amazon Web Services’ new channel chief this week after serving as technical advisor – also known as chief of staff -- to AWS CEO Andy Jassy since December 2017.

Yeum is now AWS’ head of worldwide channels and alliances, the No. 1 cloud computing provider’s highest-ranking channel executive role that had been held by Terry Wise for 11 years, as CRN exclusively reported yesterday.

As general manager of AWS Korea after joining the company in 2014, Yeum led all customer-facing teams that engaged with enterprises and startups in Korea. His responsibilities included engaging with c-level executives about their digital transformation and innovation strategies, developing business through channels and alliances, driving overall awareness of AWS in Korea and managing business operations.

Yeum’s LinkedIn bio states that his skills include cultural adaptability, he practices values-based management and has a passion for learning. He has a strong interest in “building teams, developing new products and partnerships, helping companies with global expansion strategies, executing market entry/growth strategy, managing profits and losses of major businesses, and investing in and incubating startups.

Yeum was not available for comment on his new position, but here's what CRN learned about him from his AWS-provided bio, his social media pages and a quick web search.

Yeum Was a Googler

Before joining AWS, Yeum worked for Google Korea from February 2007 until August 2013.

He first served as Google Korea’s head of business development for almost three years, during which he led the establishment of Android, YouTube and Google Display Network ecosystems for the company, according to his LinkedIn bio. He also developed and managed strategic partnerships for search advertising syndication, Google mobile applications distribution and mobile advertising.

Yeum then became director of business development for Google Korea, managing all of Google's strategic partnerships in Korea for mobile, advertising, content and distribution for a nine-month period.

His last position at Google Korea was managing director for just more than two years. He managed Google's overall sales and operations in Korea and led a sales strategy around YouTube and mobile that resulted in Korea becoming Google’s fastest growing market in Asia Pacific, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also led a cross-functional team to develop Google Korea’s new consumer services strategy centered on “winning the access points via Android OS and Chrome and driving daily user engagement via YouTube, Google Play and Search.”

Yeum’s Other Business Experience

Yeum has experience as an entrepreneur, business consultant and merger and acquisition analyst.

As CEO of Xfiniti Korea from 2000 to 2007, Yeum provided business and information technology consulting and technology solution development to wireless carriers and online companies in Korea.

Yeum did a seven-month stint as an associate in French international banking group BNP Paribas’ Hong Kong-based corporate finance division, specializing in mergers and acquisitions.

Prior to that, starting in mid-1999, he worked almost three years as a business analyst for management consulting company A.T. Kearney’s financial institutions group, where he focused on providing business strategy, marketing and operations consulting for financial institutions in the United States and Asia.

He’s Wicked Smaht And Played College Golf

Yeum was born in Seoul and grew up in Kentucky and New York, where he attended high school, according to a former blog that he authored.

Yeum graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., in 1996 with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering and computer science. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega, a social fraternity founded at the Virginia Military Institute in 1865, which later was expelled from MIT in 2009, long after Yeum graduated.

Yeum played varsity golf at MIT. Campus newspaper The Tech reported on Oct. 9, 1992, that Yeum had a big prior week with the MIT Engineers team, shooting an 81 in the Constitution Athletic Conference Tournament. He led the team to a second-place tourney finish and was selected to the All-Conference Team. Yeum’s finish at the Eastern College Athletic Conference New England Regional Tournament later that week qualified him for the ECAC Championship Tournament.

Yeum On Social Media

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, former General Electric chairman and CEO Jack Welch and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson are among the “influencers” that Yeum follows on LinkedIn.

He also follows Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner, Quibi CEO and former Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman, former New York City mayor and Bloomberg LP founder and CEO Michael Bloomberg and Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes among others.

Yeum’s Twitter handle is @dougyeum. Verified users that he’s following range from security expert Brian Krebs (@briankrebs), OpenStack co-founder and OpenStack Foundation chief operating officer Mark Collier (@sparkycollier), New Yorker staff writer Jane Mayer (@JaneMayerNYer) and satirical digital media company The Onion (@TheOnion) to investor and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban (@mcuban), Harvard cognitive scientist Steven Pinker (@sapinker), former president Barack Obama (@BarackObama) and the World Economic Forum (@WEF).