Hyundai Motor Company has appointed José Muñoz as its new president and chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2025, making him the first non-Korean CEO in the company’s history. He succeeds Jaehoon Chang, who will transition to vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Group.
Muñoz, 59, has served as Hyundai’s chief operating officer since 2019 and has overseen global operations, sales, and product planning across multiple regions. He will now lead Hyundai’s efforts to expand its leadership in next-gen mobility, including electrification and hydrogen technology, while continuing to strengthen the company’s global brand.
“It’s an honor to serve Hyundai, our employees, customers, dealers and other stakeholders in this new role,” Muñoz said.
“I’m excited and motivated by the challenge ahead and want to continue Hyundai’s growth trajectory and laser-focus on exceeding customer expectations. It truly is a great time to be with Hyundai,” he added.
Muñoz, a native of Spain and a U.S. citizen, earned his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Polytechnic University of Madrid and earned an Executive MBA from IE Business School in Madrid. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and French. Before joining Hyundai, he held senior roles at Nissan and Toyota.