Hyundai Names Lee as Chief for U.S. Unit

Hyundai Motor Co. has appointed Kyung Soo Lee to take over as president and CEO of its U.S. operations on Sept. 18.

Lee, 61, will replace Jerry Flannery, who has served as interim CEO of Hyundai Motor America for the past nine months.

Flannery will return to his former post as general counsel for the American unit. He had been filling in since December, after Hyundai fired CEO Dave Zuchowski because of unsatisfactory sales results.

Last year Hyundai deliveries grew 2% to 775,000 units in a flat overall market. Sales plunged 13% through the first eight months of 2017.

Lee arrives at Hyundai after nearly 20 years in various regional posts of Hyundai’s global unit. He has served as president of affiliate Kia Motors’ operations in the Caribbean, Spain and Latin America. Most recently Lee was CEO of Hyundai Translead, which manufactures semi-truck trailers.