Hyundai Reorganizes Global Operations

Hyundai is reorganizing its global business operations with the establishment of regional headquarters in North America, Europe, and India region in an effort to spur sustainable growth and enhance innovation.

The company has started the reorg by launching Hyundai Motor North America headquarters, Hyundai Motor Europe headquarters and Hyundai Motor India headquarters, effective July 2. With this change, the company now grants greater autonomy to each region, according to the automaker.

Each regional unit’s responsibilities will extend across every aspect of the business, ranging from product planning, marketing, sales, and manufacturing, according to Hyundai. It will operate with greater integration, to actively respond to rapidly evolving market trends and customers’ needs. Each regional headquarters will also have functional divisions for planning, finance, products and customer experience, so it can secure and optimize more effective decision-making systems within each region.

The regional groups, in close collaboration with corporate headquarters, will play a hub role to lead continuous innovation within each market and advance Hyundai’s global business operations to the next level, according to the automaker.

The newly-launched Hyundai Motor North America Headquarters will encompass Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, the company’s production hub for the Americas, and three sales units – Hyundai Motor America, Hyundai Motor Canada and Hyundai Motor Mexico. Executive vice president Yong-woo Lee, will leave his current position as head of Hyundai Motor Brazil, to oversee operations of the newly established regional headquarters.

Hyundai Motor Europe headquarters will expand Hyundai Motor Europe’s current role beyond sales operations, bringing under its wing Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech and Hyundai Assan Otomotiv Sanayi Ve Ticaret (Turkey manufacturing joint venture). Dong-woo Choi, currently head of European Operations Division in Seoul, will take on the role as head of the new regional headquarters, along with his promotion to executive vice president.

Hyundai Motor India headquarters will support the company to further enhance operations in the market, under the leadership of executive vice president Young-key Koo, the current managing director of Hyundai Motor India.

These changes are in line with last October’s restructuring at Hyundai’s headquarters in Seoul, which saw the establishment of a Global Operations Division, according to Hyundai. More overseas markets will be transformed into regional headquarters as the company aims to complete its global reorganization by 2019.