The head of Irvine-based Kia Motors America Inc. and the company’s manufacturing arm in Georgia has been promoted.
South Korea-based Kia Motors Corp., the companies’ parent, said Byung Mo Ahn was promoted to group vice chairman and chief executive of Kia Motors America and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. He had served as group president and chief executive of the two companies since 2008.
Ahn is expected to continue to focus on Kia’s long-term, U.S. growth strategy in his new position.
There are no plans to hire an additional executive to fill the position left vacant with his promotion. Instead, the promotion is seen as a signal of the growing importance of the U.S. market to Kia Motors Corp., the spokesperson said.
Kia Motors America ended last year with U.S. sales down 4% to 535,000 vehicles.
