Hyundai Motor America Inc. in Fountain Valley ranks No. 6 on Costa Mesa-based J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Vehicle Dependability Study—up 13 spots from last year. The study, in its 28th year, examines vehicle problems reported by owners of vehicle models that have been on the road for three years.
J.D. Power, founded in 1968 and famous for its Power Circle Ratings, conducts independent consumer surveys of product and service quality and customer satisfaction in industries such as automotive, financial services, healthcare, insurance, energy and telecommunications. The company also works on behalf of corporate clients to analyze consumer preference data to help drive and define brand strategies.
Last month it named Jacob George vice president and general manager of its Asia Pacific operations in Shanghai. George, who’s been with the company for 16 years, “will draw on his significant manufacturing, product development and retail experience to advise client companies seeking consumer insights that will help improve their business.”
J.D. Power also hired Doug Betts as senior vice president of global automotive operations. Betts most recently was at Apple Inc., where he helped lead the introduction of its latest product innovations. He replaces John Humphrey, who announced his departure late last year.
OCR on ‘Fake News’
The Orange County Register’s umbrella organization, Southern California News Group, launched a branding campaign that uses “images of UFOs, mermaids and dragons” to “position its 11 daily newspapers and websites as trusted alternatives to endless streams of ‘fake news’ on the internet and social networks.”
The campaign launched last month via newspapers’ social media accounts. It also includes print and digital ads with the UFO theme that “illustrate the vast difference between fantasy and reality with respect to the news you read,” according to the group.
Milk Dish
The California Milk Processor Board in San Clemente hosted a Food Trends culinary competition, inviting chefs to send in their favorite recipes. Milk-infused submissions included pork chops; coconut tres leches made with horchata ice cream and dulce de leche; and a Napa cabbage creation by Shirley Chung, a current contestant on popular Bravo show “Top Chef.” Ethan Speizer, founder and executive chef at late-night pop-up restaurant Nuri Napa, contributed a lamb neck recipe that “incorporates an array of spices and herbs such as bouquet garni and Shisho gremolata.” Merry Graham’s Smoky Chili Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Kahlua Milk Frosting & Vanilla Milk Drizzle was the judges’ favorite.
“The start of a new year inspires an openness to try something new, especially in the kitchen,” the board’s executive director, Steve James, said in a statement. “We’re excited to showcase new culinary creations that demonstrate milk’s central role in expected food trends for 2017.”
The nonprofit organization, better known for its “Got Milk?” slogan, is funded by the state’s milk processors and overseen by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. San Francisco-based advertising agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners created “Got Milk?” for the general market in the early 1990s. GALLEGOS United in Huntington Beach converted it into “toma leche,” or “drink milk,” for Latino consumers in 2006. The agencies recently collaborated on a $20 million milk ad campaign.
Bits & Pieces
The county of Orange launched a mobile app called myOCgov that enable users to search for nearby county services, including parks, libraries, health and social services, and business-related resources. … OluKai Inc. in Aliso Viejo hired Charleston-based Groundswell PR to lead its day-to-day media relations and increase awareness of its footwear collections. … Lantronix Inc. in Irvine appointed Shahram Mehraban as vice president of marketing. Mehraban most recently served as marketing director and chief of staff of the industrial and energy solutions division of Intel Corp.’s IoT Group.
