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Munos joined Hyundai Motor five years ago in 2019 as its global chief operating officer.
Jose Munoz. (Photo Credit: His LinkedIn Profile)
Hyundai Motor has appointed Jose Munoz, current US chief and global chief operating officer, as its new chief executive officer (CEO), with effect from January 1, 2025, according to a company statement on Friday. The appointment has made Munoz the first foreigner to lead the South Korean conglomerate.
Munos joined Hyundai Motor five years ago in 2019 as its global chief operating officer. He was in charge for the carmaker’s north and south American business. Prior to that, he served at Nissan Motor for 15 years, including as chairman of its China unit.
The 59-year-old Munoz, born in Spain, will replace Jaehoon Chang, which will continue with the group as vice-chairman of its automotive division.
“Munoz is appointed as the first non-Korean CEO of Hyundai Motor … is expected to enhance the company’s global management systems and further elevate its stature as a leading global brand,” Hyundai said in a statement.
The appointments, which also include Sung Kim, a former U.S. diplomat and a US special representative for North Korea, as president of Hyundai Motor Company, are part of the company’s aim to “better prepare for uncertainties in the global business environment,” it said.
Who is Jose Munoz?
Jose Munoz serves as the global president and COO of Hyundai Motor Company, as well as the president and CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America.
His role includes overseeing strategic performance initiatives across Europe, India, and the Middle East & Africa. Muñoz is instrumental in Hyundai’s global talent strategy, focusing on acquiring and retaining talent in emerging tech sectors. He also directs global sales, service, and product planning through Hyundai’s Global Business Operations Division, as per his LinkedIn profile.
Operating out of Hyundai’s US headquarters in Fountain Valley, California, Muñoz is responsible for the entire American market, encompassing Hyundai Motor’s operations across North, Central, and South America as the head of the Hyundai Motor Americas Region.
Before joining Hyundai, Munoz held the role of Chief Performance Officer at Nissan Motor Corporation and served as Chairman of Nissan China. During his 15-year tenure with Nissan, beginning in 2004, he drove record-breaking growth and sales in his regions of responsibility.
Muñoz holds a PhD in nuclear engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and an MBA from Instituto de Empresa (IE) Business School in Madrid. He has also completed executive programs at Cranfield School of Management in the UK and INSEAD in France.
