Hyundai Motor America has named David Zuchowski, executive vice president of sales, as its president and CEO, as John Krafcik leaves the automaker.

Zuchowski takes over Jan. 1, a day after Krafcik steps down following the completion of his contract, Hyundai announced Friday.

"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," he added.

Zuchowski, 55, joined Hyundai in 2007 as vice president of sales. He was previously with Mazda Motor, where he served as vice president of sales and field operations. Zuchowski began his career in 1980 at Ford Motor Company, where he progressed through various executive-level positions including regional manager, product marketing manager, national merchandising manager, and field operations manager for the Ford and Lincoln Mercury divisions.

In calendar-year 2012, Hyundai sold 54,880 fleet cars (10.5% of total sales) and 14,131 light trucks (11.2% of total sales).

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