Hyundai Motor America has let go of its CEO Dave Zuchowski, claiming that he failed to meet internal sales objectives.
The decision, which is effective immediately, puts Jerry Flannery, the general counsel and executive vice president as the interim CEO until a successor is chosen.
Dave Zuchowski joined Hyundai as U.S. sales chief in 2007 and took over the CEO position at the start of 2014. Early on in Zuchowski’s career at Hyundai, sales were climbing thanks to small car sales, but the brand has struggled to maintain its growth rate thanks to the large bump in crossover and SUV sales in America.
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Through November of this year, Hyundai sales were up by 1.3 percent in the U.S., a small increase when you consider the double-digit growth the brand saw in 2010 and 2011.
Zuchowski is a 36-year veteran of the automotive industry, service as the vice president of sales and field operations at Mazda North America before moving to Hyundai.
Hyundai’s new CEO will face a number of challenges, including getting the brand’s new alternative-fuel vehicles into customers’ driveways and launching the Genesis luxury brand in the U.S.
[Source: Automotive News]
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