Kia Names New COO for Europe

Kia Motors Corp. has appointed Emilio Herrera, head of its operations in Spain, to take over as chief operating officer for its European business.

Herrera, 56, will succeed Michael Cole, effective next week, Automotive News Europe reports. Cole is moving to an undisclosed global job with Kia.

Herrera joined Kia from the Fiat Group seven years ago and was named to lead the company’s Spanish business at the end of 2012. Since then Kia sales in the country have more than doubled.