Hyundai Brings In Ex-Nissan Exec José Muñoz as Chief Operating Officer

Muñoz to oversee global operations strategy and implementation
He brings decades of automotive and technology experience
Muñoz also to become Head of Hyundai Motor Americas Region

SEOUL, April 18, 2019 – Hyundai Motor Company has appointed José Muñoz as global Chief Operating Officer. In this capacity, Mr. Muñoz will oversee global operations strategies and their implementation. His focus will be to deliver profitable growth and to improve overall performance of Hyundai Motor based on his decades of automotive and technology experience.

“José Muñoz has an impressive track record and is proven to be a visionary and motivational leader who is adept at all aspects of our business,” said Wonhee Lee, President of Hyundai Motor Company. “His decades of automotive and technology experience make him well suited for this new role as we move the company to the next step. We are looking forward to Mr. Muñoz joining the team, and will lean on his leadership skills and vision to achieve long-term sustainable growth and evolve into a Smart Mobility Solutions Provider.”

“I am excited to join Hyundai Motor at this vital time in its history,” said José Muñoz. “My capabilities around delivering steady profitable growth, managing the entire supply chain, and working together with our dealer partners to find win-win solutions match up well with the opportunity here. I am eager to bring best global practices from the automobile and technology industries to my new role as COO of Hyundai Motor Company and am honored to join this esteemed corporation.”

Mr. Muñoz will report to Hyundai Motor Company's top leadership in Seoul. He will start on May 1 and be based in Fountain Valley, California.

Mr. Muñoz has also been named President and CEO of both Hyundai Motor North America and Hyundai Motor America. He will be responsible for the entire American market, including Hyundai Motor North, Central and South America, as the Head of Hyundai Motor Americas Region. Mr. Muñoz is an important hire in further solidifying Hyundai’s overseas business reorganization that was announced last year with the creation of Hyundai Motor North America, among other regional headquarters around the world.

He was most recently the Chief Performance Officer for Nissan Motor Corporation and the Chairman of Nissan China. He joined Nissan in 2004 and during his 15 years at the automaker led significant growth and record sales in the regions he managed.

Mr. Muñoz, 53, a native of Spain, earned his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Polytechnic University of Madrid and has an MBA from Instituto de Empresa (IE) Business School in Madrid. He has also completed executive management programs from Cranfield School of Management in the U.K. and INSEAD Business School in France. He is fluent in English, Spanish and French.

2018 - 2019: Chief Performance Officer and Chairman China, Nissan
2016 - 2018: Chief Performance Officer and Chairman North America, Nissan
2014 - 2016: EVP, Chairman of Management Committee, North America, Nissan
2004 - 2014: General Manager Nissan Europe, Managing Director Nissan Motor Iberia, President Nissan Mexico, Nissan
1999 - 2004: After Sales and Dealer Network Development Management roles, Toyota Motor Marketing Europe
1996 - 1999: Network Development Director, Daewoo Motor Iberia
1989 - 1996: Dealer, Citroën

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About Hyundai Motor Company
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond with its range of world-class vehicles and mobility services available in more than 200 countries. Employing more than 110,000 employees worldwide, Hyundai has sold more than 4.5 million vehicles globally. Hyundai Motor continues to enhance its product line-up with vehicles that are helping to build solutions for a more sustainable future, such as NEXO, the world’s first dedicated hydrogen-powered SUV.