Paldi
10-07-2005, 07:58 AM
Kia Motor America replaces CEO, hires Hunt
Peter Butterfield has left Kia Motors America, Inc. as president and CEO, the company said Friday. He has been replaced by J.H. Lee, who was senior executive vice president of Kia Motors Corp.
Volkswagen's former head of North America, Len Hunt, 50, will join Kia Motors America as its COO.
The details behind Butterfield's departure were not immediately available.
Kia said Hunt, who will join Kia at its Irvine, Calif., headquarters on Monday, Oct. 10, will report to Lee.
News of Hunt's resignation from Volkswagen AG surfaced on Thursday, Oct. 6. He had been due to take the position of board member for sales and marketing at Bentley Motors Group, VW Group's British luxury-car maker in Crewe, England.
Last month, VW announced it had named Adrian Hallmark, 43, to replace Hunt as executive vice president in charge of the VW brand in North America.
Hunt will be responsible for overseeing all Kia Motors America business operations, including sales and marketing, fixed operations and corporate planning, Kia said.
In a prepared statement, Lee said: "Kia Motors is entering a new phase of aggressive growth in the United States, and we have realigned our management structure to better support this effort. With his experience and industry track record, we welcome Len to Kia and look forward to his leadership during this critical period of brand development in the U.S."
Peter Butterfield has left Kia Motors America, Inc. as president and CEO, the company said Friday. He has been replaced by J.H. Lee, who was senior executive vice president of Kia Motors Corp.
Volkswagen's former head of North America, Len Hunt, 50, will join Kia Motors America as its COO.
The details behind Butterfield's departure were not immediately available.
Kia said Hunt, who will join Kia at its Irvine, Calif., headquarters on Monday, Oct. 10, will report to Lee.
News of Hunt's resignation from Volkswagen AG surfaced on Thursday, Oct. 6. He had been due to take the position of board member for sales and marketing at Bentley Motors Group, VW Group's British luxury-car maker in Crewe, England.
Last month, VW announced it had named Adrian Hallmark, 43, to replace Hunt as executive vice president in charge of the VW brand in North America.
Hunt will be responsible for overseeing all Kia Motors America business operations, including sales and marketing, fixed operations and corporate planning, Kia said.
In a prepared statement, Lee said: "Kia Motors is entering a new phase of aggressive growth in the United States, and we have realigned our management structure to better support this effort. With his experience and industry track record, we welcome Len to Kia and look forward to his leadership during this critical period of brand development in the U.S."