“When Elon Musk first came up with his electric vehicle, that’s where history began,” Brian Kim answers when asked about his career history.
Kim is the senior director of the supply chain for Lithos Energy Inc., a company specializing in the lithium batteries used in heavy-duty electric applications.
“That’s when I began exploring advanced technologies, expanding my network, and getting actively involved in the renewable energy sector,” Kim explains.
A Life-Changing Event
Kim was ambitious from a young age and planned to eventually study and work in the United States. However, before achieving that goal, his fluency in English, Russian, and Korean allowed him to work as a business analyst and later as an executive interpreter in Moscow. In these roles, he worked closely with the presidential offices of Korea and Russia.
Though Kim was advancing in his career, his commitment to eventually building a life in the United States never wavered. Having worked in close, confidential capacities with the presidential offices, he had developed a nuanced understanding of international relations and high-level diplomacy. Encouraged by his father, he submitted a formal appeal to the U.S. presidential office. In recognition of his unique background and contributions, he was granted permanent residency through a special executive order.
Receiving his green card changed Kim’s life, enabling him to pursue his goals in the U.S. Following his immigration, he earned a degree in business administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley in 2015.
Building on Success
Kim has worked with a range of companies and executed significant contracts with major global companies, including LG, Panasonic, Toshiba, and others. He has also played a pivotal leadership role in establishing and scaling the complete supply chain infrastructures for multiple companies, driving strategic growth from the ground up.
Kim believes in building connections with various parties because they are essential to achieving success. He has worked diligently to establish relationships and trust with tier 1 suppliers, which can be challenging.
“Since entering the automotive industry, I’ve been responsible for managing a wide range of partnerships. In particular, I’ve built strong, collaborative relationships with a diverse group of global manufacturers,” Kim says
Those relationships paid off when a battery shortage occurred in the industry a few years ago. Major companies were very selective about who they worked with, to the point that they would reject large projects from well-known brands. However, because these suppliers already had a preexisting relationship with Kim and trusted him, they were willing to work with him and his company.
The Future of Electrification
Within the industry, there is speculation that electrification is now a dying trend. Although Kim agrees that some applications like EVs are not as in demand as they were before, his outlook, based on his experience in the industry, is not as dire.
“What we’re seeing in the industry now is a wave of consolidation. Previously, the market was inflated with hype and unrealistic expectations. But the landscape is maturing — scalability is improving, and things are stabilizing. In fact, I believe we’re entering a new phase of sustainable growth,” Kim explains.
In his current role at Lithos Energy, Kim aims to elevate the company into a world-class organization, positioning it to either go public or merge with a larger company.
Kim was included in Marquis Who’s Who in early 2025 for his expertise in supply chain and procurement, as well as his contributions to the automotive sector.
