Born in Iran while Gene Hong’s father, a major in the Korean Air Force, was working overseas, Gene had the unique experience of living in Sudan and Seoul before immigrating to the United States at the age of five. Growing up in San Diego and later moving to Los Angeles for college and the first half of a professional career, Gene built a multidisciplinary foundation across fashion, design, e-commerce, and brick-and-mortar retail, while also launching multiple businesses through 2013.

In 2013, Gene joined Target in Minneapolis, beginning in the Product Design organization. That role led to an expat assignment in Seoul from 2015 to 2018, where Gene led multiple initiatives. Upon returning to Minneapolis, Gene built new teams and capabilities within the product design organization and went on to lead Product Design, Strategy, Trend & Concept as well as Brand Collaborations across several of Target’s owned brand businesses.

Gene is currently Senior Director of Product Development, Global Collectibles at Crunchyroll, where Gene leads product development across collectibles and fan products with a focus on strategy, cross-functional alignment, and bringing culturally resonant products to market for anime fans around the world.

Gene’s professional philosophy centers around innovation, collaboration, and the belief that great product can deepen fan connection and transform the customer experience. Passionate about global trends and cultural influences, Gene strives to integrate diverse perspectives into every project.