Hyundai Motor Company has just announced the appointment of a new President and Head of the Hyundai-Kia Strategy Co-ordination Office, as well as three other promotions.

Choi Han Young, 52, formerly Senior Executive Vice President of Hyundai-Kia Marketing Division, has been named the new head of the Hyundai-Kia Strategy Co-ordination Office, responsible for planning Hyundai-Kia's long term development plan. Mr Choi has up until now specialised in public relations, export operation and marketing before his new appointment.

At the same time, Kwon Moon-Sik, former head of the Namyang R&D Advanced Technology Centre, has been promoted to Senior Executive Vice President, and Lee Yong-Hoon, former Executive Vice President of Public Relations, has been promoted to Senior Executive Vice President of Public Relations while Lee Jae-Wan, Executive Vice President of Hyundai-Kia Product Planning Division has been promoted to Senior Executive Vice President of Hyundai-Kia Marketing Division.

Hyundai says the new appointments, effective since 1 April, “lay the groundwork to maximise Hyundai and Kia's synergy effects.”

- Hyundai Motor Europe sold 81,926 units in the first quarter of this year, an 18% rise year on year, prompting HME to raise its year-end target by 20,000 units to 350. Meanwhile, the Korean auto industry association KAMA reports that Hyundai and its domestic competitors are starting to diversify their export efforts, hitherto focused on North America and Western Europe . Korean car exports rose 25% year on year in January and February to c.310,000 units. Sales to the Middle East and Eastern European markets rose 110% and 100% respectively, while sales to Africa, mostly South Africa, were up 86%.