José Muñoz, the first Spaniard to lead Hyundai Motor Company, will lead global innovation and sustainable transformation of the brand.
Hyundai Motor Company announced the appointment of Jose Muñoz as its new Global President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2025.
This milestone makes José Muñoz is the first Spaniard and first non-Korean executive to lead the iconic South Korean brand.highlighting his distinguished career in the global automotive industry and his ability to lead one of the most innovative and competitive companies in the sector.
A world leader with an impeccable track record
José Muñoz, born in Madrid 59 years ago, demonstrated exceptional ability to achieve outstanding results and lead in a highly competitive environment.. His appointment reflects not only his personal success, but also Hyundai’s commitment to globalizing its leadership and adapting to the challenges and opportunities of the global business environment.
From joining Hyundai in 2019 As global chief operating officer and president and CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America, Muñoz played a key role in the company’s record results in this strategic market. Among the most notable achievements is strengthening the competitiveness of dealers.management implementation is focused on profitability and planning important investments such as the construction of Metaplant America in Georgia, USA, a new plant that strengthens the brand’s commitment to electrification and sustainability.
Prior to Hyundai, Muñoz held leadership positions at Nissan, where he led operations in North America and China as Chief Performance Officer. He has also held strategic positions at Toyota Motor Europe, building a reputation as one of the automotive industry’s most influential leaders.
The challenge of achieving sustainable transformation
In his new positionJose Munoz will take over The mission is to strengthen Hyundai’s global management system and strengthen its leadership in innovation and sustainability.. The company indicated that his appointment aims to “advance customer-centric mobility” through a diversified offering that includes electric, hybrid, hydrogen and internal combustion (ICE) technologies.
Transforming the automotive sector towards a sustainable model presents a unique challenge but also an opportunity for Hyundai. Under Muñoz’s leadership, the brand aims to strengthen its position as a global leader in electric mobility. with modern vehicles that meet consumer demands and reduce environmental impact.
In this context, Hyundai recognized Muñoz as “the ideal person to enhance the company’s performance due to his merit-based management philosophy and his ability to attract and develop talent from around the world.”
Recognition for an exemplary career
Muñoz’s appointment also talks about his history of achievements at Hyundai. In 2022, he was appointed to the company’s board of directors, cementing his influence over the automaker’s strategic decisions. This role, coupled with his leadership in North America, has allowed Muñoz to contribute significantly to Hyundai’s unprecedented results in recent years.
Muñoz is a nuclear engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and holds an Executive MBA from IE Business School. He has also completed executive management programs at prestigious institutions such as Cranfield School of Management (UK) and INSEAD Business School (France). He currently resides in California and is a dual citizen of Spain and the United States.
In the statement Muñoz expressed his gratitude and commitment: “I am honored to serve Hyundai, our employees, customers, dealers and other stakeholders in this new role. I deeply appreciate the trust placed in me by CEO Yusun Chung and Vice Chairman Jehoon Chang. I am very excited to lead this new phase as we work to achieve new goals and strengthen our position as a global leader in the automotive industry.
A historic step for Hyundai and the auto industry
With this appointmentHyundai not only marks a major milestone by entrusting the leadership of its brand to a non-Korean professional, but also sends a clear message of openness and commitment to talent from around the world.
He The challenge of managing a company that is growing on multiple fronts – from electrification and hydrogen to strengthening the global dealer network – now falls into the hands of an executive with a unique combination of technical expertise, strategic vision and leadership.
Jose Muñoz not only represents an example of professional success for Spain, but also symbolizes the ability of world leaders to transform and guide organizations towards an innovative and sustainable future. In an industry that faces ongoing challenges, Muñoz’s leadership promises to play a critical role in taking Hyundai to new heights of excellence and global relevance.
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