Kia Hires New Marketing Chief for U.S.

Kia Motors America Inc. has hired Michael Sprague to fill the vice president of marketing position, which has been vacant since the departure of Ian Beavis in February.

Sprague joins KMA from Ford Motor Co., where he was group marketing manager for the Lincoln-Mercury unit.

“Michael’s strong marketing background coupled with his international experience will help us achieve our goal of continually raising the brand profile,” KMA CEO Byung Mo Ahn says in a statement. Sprague has worked for Ford’s Japanese affiliate Mazda Motor Corp.

Sprague’s appointment is effective Aug. 11.

A source told Ward’s in February Beavis, along with former KMA CEO Len Hunt, were fired by Ahn. KMA has maintained they both left of their own volition.