Hyundai Taps Jong Eun Kim for North American Unit

Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. names Jong Eun Kim to lead the South Korean auto maker’s North American operations.

As president and CEO of Fountain Valley, CA-based Hyundai Motor America Inc., Kim succeeds Ok Suk Koh. Koh will lead operations in China for Hyundai’s sister company Kia Motors Corp.

Kia sales in China have been disappointing, and the auto maker recently pulled management back to Seoul. Hyundai North America also suffered a rocky year, scaling down sales targets to 510,000 vehicles from 555,000 and witnessing the departure of COO Steve Wilhite to Nissan North America Inc.

The latest management changes are effective Jan. 1.