Amgen vs Kia: Founders, CEOs and History
Amgen was founded in 1980 by George B. Rathmann, William K. Bowes Jr. and is led by Robert A. Bradway. Kia was founded in 1944 by Kim Chul-ho and is led by Ho Sung Song.
Company facts
Founders
Amgen
George B. Rathmann
Amgen, originally incorporated as Applied Molecular Genetics, was founded in 1980 not by a single scientist, but by a calculated syndicate of venture capitalists and academics trying to commercialize the brand-new science of recombinant DNA.
William K. Bowes Jr.
William K. Bowes Jr. Was the venture capital strategist whose vision catalyzed Amgen's formation.
Kia
Kim Chul-ho
Kia possesses a gritty, foundational founding story, rooted in the desperate industrial infancy of Korea, long before it became an automotive leader, starting entirely with the pragmatic, meticulous manufacturing of bicycle parts.
CEOs and their tenures
Amgen
- George B. Rathmann1980–1988
Chief Executive Officer
George Rathmann, a physical chemist who had run research and development at Abbott Laboratories, was named Amgen's first chief executive in 1980 and worked from a small trailer so that laboratory space could go to scientists.
Source - Gordon M. Binder1988–2000
Chief Executive Officer
Gordon Binder joined Amgen as chief financial officer in 1982 and led its June 1983 initial public offering.
Source - Kevin W. Sharer2000–2012
Chief Executive Officer
Kevin Sharer joined Amgen in 1992 as president and chief operating officer and became chairman and chief executive in 2000.
Source - Robert A. Bradway2012–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Robert Bradway became chief executive on May 23, 2012, succeeding Kevin Sharer as the fourth CEO in Amgen's history, and added the chairmanship at the start of 2013.
Source
Kia
- Euisun Chung2005–present
Executive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group; Kia Board Member
Credited with starting the design-led turnaround that changed how buyers saw Kia.
Source - Han-woo Park2014–2020
Former President and CEO
Serving as CEO from 2014 to 2020, he successfully navigated severe geopolitical tensions (like the THAAD missile crisis in China that crushed sales) while heavily upgrading Kia's global brand perception.
Source - Ho Sung Song2020–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Revenue grew from about $41.9 billion (KRW 59 trillion) in 2020 to ~$81 billion (KRW 114.1 trillion) in 2025, and the operating margin peaked at 11.8% in 2024 before tariffs cut it to 8.0% in 2025.
Source
Timeline: Amgen and Kia side by side
1944Kia
Founding of Kyungsung Precision Industry
Kim Chul-ho establishes a modest workshop in Seoul dedicated to the manufacturing of steel tubes and bicycle parts, laying the humble groundwork for what would eventually become a global automotive leader and a vital contributor to South Korea's post-war indus…
1974Kia
Launch of the Brisa, Kia's First Passenger Car
Kia launched the Brisa, its first passenger car, built at the Sohari plant that opened in 1973. Kia had built motorcycles and light trucks before this, and the Brisa made it a carmaker.
1980Amgen
Applied Molecular Genetics is incorporated
Applied Molecular Genetics (AMGen) was incorporated on April 8, 1980 in Thousand Oaks, California, as the idea of venture capitalist William K. Bowes Jr. and a group of scientific collaborators.
1983Amgen
Nasdaq listing and the erythropoietin clone
Amgen completed its initial public offering on June 17, 1983, raising nearly US$40 million under chief financial officer Gordon Binder, and formally shortened its name to Amgen.
1984Amgen
Kirin-Amgen joint venture formed
Amgen and Kirin Brewery Company of Japan formed Kirin-Amgen in 1984 as a joint venture for the worldwide commercialization of erythropoietin.
1985Amgen
G-CSF cloned, leading to Neupogen
While Fu-Kuen Lin's team worked on erythropoietin, researcher Larry Souza and his group cloned and expressed human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in 1985.
1986Kia
Launch of the Pride and Global Export Expansion
Through a partnership with Ford and Mazda, Kia returned to passenger cars with the Pride. Abroad it was sold as the Ford Festiva, and it gave Kia its first large export volumes.
1989Amgen
FDA approves Epogen
The FDA approved Epogen (epoetin alfa) on June 1, 1989 for anemia in patients with chronic kidney failure on dialysis. It was the first commercial recombinant human erythropoietin. Epogen's U.S.
1991Amgen
Neupogen approved, giving Amgen a second franchise
The FDA approved Neupogen (filgrastim) in February 1991. By stimulating white blood cell production it reduced the risk of infection in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.
1991Amgen
Amgen wins the erythropoietin patent fight
On March 6, 1991 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the Kirin-Amgen erythropoietin patent and ruled against Genetics Institute in Amgen v. Chugai Pharmaceutical and Genetics Institute.
1997Kia
Bankruptcy
Kia declared bankruptcy in 1997 during the Asian financial crisis.
1998Kia
Hyundai Motor Acquires Kia
After Kia collapsed in the 1997 Asian financial crisis and went into court receivership, Hyundai Motor won the 1998 auction for it, beating Ford among other bidders. Kia stayed a separate brand within the new Hyundai Motor Group.
2001Amgen
FDA approves Aranesp, the longer-acting EPO
Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa), an erythropoietin analogue with modified glycosylation and a longer half-life, was approved in 2001. Less frequent dosing than Epogen improved convenience and gave Amgen a newer, higher-priced product to migrate patients toward.
2002Amgen
US$16 billion Immunex acquisition brings Enbrel in-house
Amgen completed its acquisition of Immunex Corporation on July 16, 2002, the largest biotechnology deal to that point at about US$16 billion in stock and cash.
2006Kia
Recruitment of Peter Schreyer
The enterprise makes the radical decision to hire former Audi design chief Peter Schreyer as its head of design, initiating a profound aesthetic revolution that introduces the well-known tiger-nose grille and elevates the brand from a budget alternative to a p…
2010Amgen
Prolia and XGEVA create the bone health franchise
The FDA approved Prolia (denosumab) for postmenopausal osteoporosis in June 2010 and XGEVA, the same molecule at a higher dose, for prevention of skeletal-related events in cancer patients in November 2010.
2011Kia
Launch of the Optima and the Design Renaissance
The Schreyer-designed Optima (K5) sedan brought Kia's new design language to a wide audience and helped it charge more and reach new buyers.
2019Amgen
US$13.4 billion purchase of Otezla from Celgene
Amgen agreed in August 2019 to buy worldwide rights to Otezla (apremilast) from Celgene for US$13.4 billion in cash, or about US$11.2 billion net of the present value of US$2.2 billion of anticipated future cash tax benefits, and closed on November 21, 2019.
2020Amgen
Amgen joins the Dow Jones Industrial Average
Amgen replaced Pfizer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on August 31, 2020, becoming one of the thirty components in the index. Inclusion recognized the scale Amgen had reached and added passive demand from Dow-tracking funds.
2020Kia
Announcement of the 'Plan S' Strategy
Kia announced Plan S, its mid- to long-term strategy to move from a combustion-focused carmaker toward EVs, purpose-built vehicles and mobility services. In January 2021 it renamed itself Kia Corporation.
2021Kia
Launch of the EV6 and the E-GMP Platform
The company introduces the award-winning EV6, the first dedicated electric vehicle built on the modular E-GMP platform, showcasing ultra-fast 800-volt charging capabilities and groundbreaking design, instantly establishing the enterprise as a serious technolog…
2023Amgen
US$27.8 billion Horizon Therapeutics acquisition closes
Amgen completed the acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics plc on October 6, 2023 for US$116.50 per share in cash, an equity value of about US$27.8 billion, after settling FTC litigation with a behavioral consent decree.
2023Kia
EV9 Launch
Kia launched the EV9, a three-row electric SUV on the E-GMP platform, which went on to win the 2024 World Car of the Year award.
2024Amgen
Imdelltra becomes the first T-cell engager for small cell lung cancer
The FDA granted accelerated approval to tarlatamab, sold as Imdelltra, on May 16, 2024 for extensive stage small cell lung cancer that has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.
2025Amgen
VESALIUS-CV extends the Repatha case to primary prevention
In November 2025 Amgen reported Phase 3 VESALIUS-CV results in more than 12,000 patients with atherosclerosis or diabetes but no prior heart attack or stroke.
2025Kia
FY2025 Revenue Reaches KRW 114.141 Trillion
Kia sold a record 3,135,873 vehicles and reported FY2025 revenue of ~$81 billion (KRW 114.1 trillion) (+6.2%). Operating profit fell 28.3% to ~$6.45 billion (KRW 9.08 trillion) as US tariffs cost more than $2.13 billion (KRW 3 trillion).
2026Amgen
Medicare price setting reaches Enbrel and Otezla
Enbrel's negotiated Medicare price under the Inflation Reduction Act took effect on January 1, 2026, after it was named in the first round of ten drugs selected for negotiation.
2026Kia
2030 Targets Set at CEO Investor Day
At its April 2026 CEO Investor Day, Kia set 2030 targets of ~$121 billion (KRW 170 trillion) in revenue, a 10% operating margin and 4.13 million sales. Q2 2026 revenue was a record ~$23.5 billion (KRW 33.04 trillion).
Acquisitions
Amgen
- Horizon Therapeutics plc2023$27.8B
- ChemoCentryx, Inc.2022$3.7B
- Five Prime Therapeutics2021$1.9B
- Celgene Otezla Business2019$13.4B
- Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2013$10.4B
- DeCODE Genetics2012$415M
Questions about Amgen vs Kia
Who is the CEO of Amgen Inc. and Kia Corporation?
Amgen Inc. is led by Robert A. Bradway and Kia Corporation is led by Ho Sung Song. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Amgen Inc. founded vs Kia Corporation?
Kia Corporation was founded in 1944 — 36 years before Amgen Inc., which was founded in 1980. Kia Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Amgen Inc..
How many employees does Amgen Inc. have compared to Kia Corporation?
Amgen Inc. employs approximately 31,500 people, while Kia Corporation employs approximately 53,200. Kia Corporation has the larger workforce at 53,200 employees, compared to Amgen Inc.'s 31,500. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Amgen Inc. and Kia Corporation headquartered?
Amgen Inc. is headquartered in United States and Kia Corporation is headquartered in South Korea. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Amgen Inc. and Kia Corporation?
Amgen Inc. was founded by George B. Rathmann, William K. Bowes Jr.. Kia Corporation was founded by Kim Chul-ho.
Which company has a longer operating history — Amgen Inc. or Kia Corporation?
Kia Corporation has been operating for approximately 82 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Amgen Inc. has been in operation for around 46 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Amgen vs Kia overview