South Korean auto major Kia India has appointed Gwanggu Lee as its new Managing Director and CEO, effective immediately. He will be the 3rd Managing Director and CEO of the company in the country succeeding Kook Hyun Shim and Tae Jin Park.
Kia India’s former MD & CEO Tae Jin Park has retired after a 36-year journey with Kia Corporation and 4 years stint with Kia India.
The automaker says Lee comes with over 30-years of experience and will spearhead Kia’s transformative journey focusing on fostering sustainable business growth. He has held leadership positions in various capacities across the globe including roles in the US, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Kia Headquarters in Central and South America, and Kia Europe Headquarters in Germany. His recent role as President at Kia Mexico played a pivotal role in the company’s substantial growth and establishment as a production and export hub.
“I am very excited to assume this responsibility as Kia India has become one of the most loved and trusted brands in just 4 years. With two segment-breaking updates – the new Seltos & the new Sonet and a host of more innovative products on the way, Kia India is surely on the right path to sustainable business growth. My vision is to unlock the next phase of growth through inspiring Kia brand experiences thereby creating more value and long-lasting impact for our customers, partners, and employees alike,” said Lee.
At present, Kia India sells 5 vehicles in India – Seltos, Carnival, Sonet, Carens, and the EV6. The company has shipped over 1.1 million vehicle manufactured from its Anantapur plant, including over 8.6 lakh domestic sales and close to 2.5 lakh exports. It has established a widespread network of 432 touchpoints across 213 cities.
