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Hyundai Motor Company

Automotive manufacturingFounded 1967
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Leadership History

Hyundai: CEO History

4 leaders · 1999 to present

Who is the CEO of Hyundai?

Jose Munoz is the CEO of Hyundai, in the role since 2025. The first chief executive was Chung Mong-koo, from 1999.

Current CEO
Jose Munoz (since 2025)
First CEO
Chung Mong-koo (1999)
Leaders documented
4
Founded
1967
NameRoleFromToYears in role
Jose MunozPresident and Chief Executive Officer2025Present1
Jaehoon ChangPresident and Chief Executive Officer202120243
Chung Eui-sunExecutive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group (former co-CEO of Hyundai Motor)2019Present7
Chung Mong-kooChairman and Chief Executive Officer1999202021

Company Overview

Hyundai Motor Company is South Korea's largest automaker and the flagship of Hyundai Motor Group, which also includes Kia, Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Steel and Hyundai Glovis. It sells Hyundai and Genesis vehicles in more than 190 countries, runs major plants in Ulsan, Alabama, Georgia, India, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Brazil and Indonesia, and employs about 123,000 people. Once known for cheap, unreliable cars, Hyundai rebuilt its reputation with a 10-year/100,000-mile U.S. powertrain warranty in 1998, sharper design and award-winning EVs. Today it is a hybrid and SUV-led business with growing bets on EVs, hydrogen and robotics. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

Jose Munoz

President and Chief Executive Officer

2025 – Present

1 year (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

Committed $26 billion to U.S. operations through 2028, set a goal of building at least 80% of U.S.-sold vehicles locally by 2030, and expanded hybrid output to offset slower EV demand.

Legacy

Munoz ran Hyundai's North American business and served as global COO before becoming CEO. Since 2025 he has led the response to U.S. tariffs, the $26 billion U.S. investment plan through 2028, the hybrid expansion and the 2030 target of 5.55 million sales.

Source →

Jaehoon Chang

President and Chief Executive Officer

2021 – 2024

3 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Chang oversaw the global rollout of the highly successful Ioniq series and expanded manufacturing into the US with the massive Georgia 'Metaplant' investment.

Legacy

As co-CEO, he drove record-breaking operating profits in 2023 by prioritizing high-margin SUVs and luxury Genesis models amid global supply chain shortages.

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Chung Eui-sun

Executive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group (former co-CEO of Hyundai Motor)

2019 – Present

7 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

Chung led the massive pivot toward dedicated EV platforms (E-GMP) and aggressively invested in Boston Dynamics to expand into robotics.

Legacy

He successfully elevated Hyundai and Kia from budget alternatives into highly desirable, premium-leaning brands, capturing significant global EV market share.

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Chung Mong-koo

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

1999 – 2020

21 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Chung Mong-koo took control of Hyundai Motor in 1999 and made vehicle quality the priority, backed by a long warranty in the United States.

Legacy

Hyundai and Kia became one of the largest carmaking groups in the world under him. His son Chung Eui-sun succeeded him as chairman in 2020.

Source →

Challenges & Strategic Context

Tariffs are the most immediate problem. A 25% U.S. duty on imported cars from April 2025, cut to 15% for Korean vehicles in November 2025, cost Hyundai more than $2.84 billion (KRW 4 trillion) in 2025 and pushed its operating margin down to 6.2%. In 2026 the pressure moved to costs and output: Q2 operating profit fell 20.8% to ~$2.02 billion (KRW 2.85 trillion) on raw-material costs, incentives and parts disruptions, an August strike cost an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 vehicles, and a stronger won is eroding export margins. EV demand has been uneven, Chinese brands such as BYD are expanding in Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America, and Hyundai's China business has shrunk to a fraction of its 2016 peak. The September 2025 immigration raid at the Hyundai-LG battery site in Georgia also delayed U.S. battery production by months.

Hyundai CEO and Leadership FAQ

Who is Jose Munoz and what is the historic significance of his appointment as CEO of Hyundai?

Jose Munoz was appointed Global CEO and President of Hyundai Motor Company in November 2024 (effective January 2025). A Spanish native and seasoned automotive executive (former Nissan Chief Performance Officer), Munoz is the first non-Korean CEO in Hyundai's 57-year history, following his record-breaking success expanding Hyundai's North American business.

Who is Chung Eui-sun and how has he transformed Hyundai Motor Group as Executive Chair?

Chung Eui-sun, grandson of the founder, became Executive Chair in October 2020. Chung transformed Hyundai into a global top-three automaker, championed design excellence, acquired Boston Dynamics, established Genesis as a luxury leader, and spearheaded the group's leadership in electrification.

Who was Chung Mong-koo and what was his well-known quality-first leadership legacy?

Chung Mong-koo served as Chairman and CEO from 1999 to 2020. Known as the 'Quality Tsar,' he instituted uncompromising 24-hour quality control centers, introduced the well-known 10-year/100,000-mile warranty in the US, and led the large global plant expansion in the US, Europe, China, and India.

Who was Jaehoon Chang and what were his achievements as CEO from 2020 to 2024?

Jaehoon (Jay) Chang served as President and CEO of Hyundai Motor, steering the company through the global microchip shortage, launching the award-winning Ioniq EV series, achieving record operating profits, and being promoted to Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group Automotive Division.

Who was Albert Biermann and how did he transform Hyundai's vehicle engineering?

Recruited from BMW M in 2015, Albert Biermann served as President and Head of R&D for Hyundai Motor Group, overhauling vehicle chassis dynamics, steering precision, ride comfort, and creating the high-performance Hyundai N brand.

Who is Luc Donckerwolke and what is his role in shaping Hyundai and Genesis design?

Luc Donckerwolke (former design director at Bentley, Lamborghini, and Audi) serves as Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Hyundai Motor Group, crafting the award-winning design language for Genesis and Hyundai's modern concept vehicles.

How has Hyundai's corporate culture evolved under modern executive leadership?

Under Chung Eui-sun, Hyundai transitioned away from rigid, top-down Confucian corporate hierarchy toward an agile, open, Silicon Valley-style culture with casual attire, flexible working hours, and international executive appointments.

What is Jose Munoz's strategic mandate as CEO for the coming decade?

Munoz's mandate focuses on maximizing North American and global market share, successfully launching production at the Georgia Metaplant, navigating EV policy changes, expanding hybrid vehicle supply, and transitioning Hyundai into a global technology software leader.

Who is the CEO of Hyundai?

Euisun Chung is the Executive Chairman and ultimate leader. He is the grandson of the legendary founder. Taking over from his father (Chung Mong-koo), Euisun executed a massive cultural shift. He aggressively pivoted Hyundai away from being a pure "fast-follower" in combustion engines to being an absolute global pioneer in EVs, hydrogen fuel cells, and robotics.

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.