David Kim

David Kim

Business Strategic Director
Sanrio Digital

David Kim, after pioneering the Internet, media and technology space in the US and Asia since the mid-90s, currently serves on many boards and executive positions of leading new media companies including Sanrio Digital and Turnout Ventures, which is a joint venture between Outblaze and Turner Asia.  He also manages many independent strategic, private equity transactions to refinancing of distressed assets. 

Most recently, Mr. Kim served as the CEO of mail.com Corporation, a leading personalized email and messenger service co-based in Seattle and Hong Kong.  Concurrently, he has advised and served on the Boards of many prominent companies throughout Asia including Viztel Berhad Ltd in Malaysia and Daum Corporation in Korea, where after 7 years of service as the Chairman of the Audit Committee, he spearheaded Daum’s acquisition of Lycos, Inc.  After the transaction, Mr. Kim managed the integration of the acquisition as the Chairman and CEO of Lycos, Inc in Boston.

Previous to these recent activities, Mr. Kim served as a Partner and Managing Director with Softbank, Inc., where he focused on the development of Softbank’s initiatives in Asia, ex-Japan, taking responsibility for venture capital activities in Greater China, Korea and Southeast Asia as a founding partner for Softbank’s Asian funds.  He oversaw roll-outs of Softbank’s U.S. affiliated companies into Asia and coordinated various Softbank’s activities throughout its world-wide partnerships.  While at Softbank, Mr. Kim also took responsibility at techpacific.com as Managing Director and CEO of techpacific Venture Capital.  Mr. Kim managed or advised many strategic and tactical initiatives of the company, including the IPO of techpacific.com, formation of techpacific Korea and techpacific Venture Capital. 

Previous to Softbank and techpacific.com, Mr. Kim steered China.com Corporation (now CDC) through its highly successful initial public and follow-on offering, marking China.com as the first Internet company in Greater China to list on NASDAQ.  As the Chief Financial Officer, he was responsible for all financial and capital markets activities and transacted all mergers, acquisitions and investment activities of China.com.  Mr. Kim also served as the Vice President of Administration at China.com, overseeing the structural, legal and regulatory functions of the Company.

Before becoming the youngest CFO of a NASDAQ listed company at age 26, Mr. Kim built his knowledge of Asia’s Internet market while serving as the Director of Asian Business Development for Lycos, Inc. where he established and developed Lycos’ Asian properties, many of which were leading portals in their respective markets.  Prior to joining the International Division at Lycos, Mr. Kim was the Finance and Strategic Planning Manager for Lycos where he reported to the CFO/COO.  Mr. Kim was instrumental in several of Lycos’ M&A activities including Tripod, WhoWhere and Wired Digital/Hotbot and managed the capital markets activities for Lycos’ early grown period.

Previous to the Internet industry, Mr. Kim was an investment banker with Bankers Trust in Los Angeles with the High Yield and Leveraged/Structured Finance Group.  As an analyst, he executed several transactions in various industries including technology, gaming and manufacturing. 

A graduate of Stanford University in Economics and Communications with Honors, Mr. Kim has an extensive musical and theatrical background and currently patrons many musical endeavors and institutions.  He is also currently expanding his personal interests into the integration of “new” and “old” media and entertainment industries.