Dec. 30, 2013—Hyundai Motor America announced on Monday that David Zuchowski, executive vice president of sales for Hyundai, will assume the position of president and CEO effective Jan. 1.
The news comes on the heels of last week’s announcement that current president and CEO John Krafcik will step down upon the completion of his contract on Dec. 31.
“On behalf of Hyundai Motor Company, we sincerely thank John for his visionary leadership and relentless pursuit of customer satisfaction, which has driven Hyundai’s record growth over the past five years,” said Im Tak Uk, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor Company. “John’s forward-looking perspective, commitment to quality and design, and pursuit of innovative new product offerings have elevated the Hyundai brand and introduced our vehicles to a new generation of satisfied and loyal customers.”
Under Krafcik’s tenure with the automaker, Hyundai Motor America experienced dramatic increases in sales volume and market share, while garnering numerous prestigious industry awards. During the same time period, the 2009 Genesis and 2012 Elantra took top honors as “North American Car of the Year,” while numerous Hyundai models received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s “Top Safety Pick” designation.
Incoming President and CEO Zuchowski joined Hyundai Motor America in February 2007 as vice president of sales with responsibility for all sales, sales operations, market representation, field operations, and overall dealer relations. Zuchowski was previously with Mazda North America, where he served as vice president of sales and field operations, and began his career in 1980 at Ford Motor Company.
