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Kia Corporation

Automotive Manufacturing and Mobility SolutionsFounded 1944
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Leadership History

Kia: CEO History

3 leaders · 2005 to present

Who is the CEO of Kia?

Ho Sung Song is the CEO of Kia, in the role since 2020. The first chief executive was Han-woo Park, from 2014.

Current CEO
Ho Sung Song (since 2020)
First CEO
Han-woo Park (2014)
Leaders documented
3
Founded
1944
NameRoleFromToYears in role
Ho Sung SongPresident and Chief Executive Officer2020Present6
Han-woo ParkFormer President and CEO201420206
Euisun ChungExecutive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group; Kia Board Member2005Present21
Who was CEO of Kia before Ho Sung Song?
Han-woo Park was CEO of Kia from 2014 to 2020, before Ho Sung Song took over in 2020.

Company Overview

Kia Corporation (KRX: 000270), headquartered at 12 Heolleung-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul, is the second automaker in Hyundai Motor Group. It has been listed since July 1973. Hyundai Motor Company holds 35.17% of its shares, and Hyundai and its related parties hold 36.99% together. Foreign investors own 40.32% and Korea's National Pension Service owns 7.25% (end of 2025). Kia designs and markets its vehicles separately from Hyundai, but the two share engineering, platforms and suppliers. In 2025 it sold 3,135,873 vehicles, its best year so far. The best sellers were the Sportage, Seltos, Sorento and Carnival, along with a growing range of hybrid and EV models. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

Ho Sung Song

President and Chief Executive Officer

2020 – Present

6 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

Set out the Plan S strategy in 2020, renamed the company Kia Corporation in 2021, launched the EV6, EV9 and EV3, started the PBV business with the PV5, and announced the 2030 targets (~$121 billion (KRW 170 trillion) revenue, 10% margin) at the April 2026 CEO Investor Day.

Legacy

Revenue grew from about $41.9 billion (KRW 59 trillion) in 2020 to ~$81 billion (KRW 114.1 trillion) in 2025, and the operating margin peaked at 11.8% in 2024 before tariffs cut it to 8.0% in 2025.

Source →

Han-woo Park

Former President and CEO

2014 – 2020

6 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Park executed the highly aggressive, absolutely crucial expansion of Kia's manufacturing footprint into India, opening the massive Anantapur facility that rapidly captured enormous market share in the subcontinent.

Legacy

Serving as CEO from 2014 to 2020, he successfully navigated severe geopolitical tensions (like the THAAD missile crisis in China that crushed sales) while heavily upgrading Kia's global brand perception.

Source →

Euisun Chung

Executive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group; Kia Board Member

2005 – Present

21 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

As Kia president in the late 2000s he hired designer Peter Schreyer in 2006 and made design the core of the brand. He now leads Hyundai Motor Group and holds 1.81% of Kia personally.

Legacy

Credited with starting the design-led turnaround that changed how buyers saw Kia.

Source →

Challenges & Strategic Context

Tariffs are Kia's biggest near-term problem. US import duties cost it more than $2.13 billion (KRW 3 trillion) of operating profit in 2025, about $536 million (KRW 755 billion) more in Q1 2026, and helped push the operating margin down from 11.8% in 2024 to 8.0% in 2025. Higher US sales incentives and warranty provisions also weighed on Q1 and Q2 2026 profit. Chinese automakers led by BYD are expanding in Europe, Southeast Asia and emerging markets with cheaper EVs. EV demand has grown more slowly than Kia's 2020 Plan S assumed, so it now plans to sell hybrids and EVs side by side. Its older reputation problems are still costly too: the 'Kia Boyz' thefts of base models built without immobilizers, and past Theta II engine recalls.

Kia CEO and Leadership FAQ

Who is the current President and CEO of Kia Corporation?

Ho Sung Song is President and CEO of Kia and has led the company since 2020. He is behind the Plan S strategy, the 2021 rebrand to Kia Corporation and the 2030 targets announced in April 2026.

Who served as President and CEO of Kia prior to Ho Sung Song?

Han-Woo Park served as President and CEO of Kia Corporation from 2014 to 2020, leading the company through major global capacity expansions, overseeing the launch of the blockbuster Telluride SUV, and managing the construction of Kia's plant in Mexico.

Who was Euisun Chung and how did he reshape Kia before leading Hyundai Motor Group?

Euisun Chung (now Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group) served as President of Kia Motors from 2005 to 2009. Chung spearheaded Kia's turnaround by recruiting chief designer Peter Schreyer, establishing design-driven management, and modernizing global operations.

What role did Peter Schreyer play in Kia's executive management?

After transforming Kia's styling as Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer was appointed President of Kia Motors in 2012, the first non-Korean executive appointed as president in company history, cementing design as the foundational pillar of Kia's corporate strategy.

Who serves as Chief Design Officer guiding Kia's current design direction?

Karim Habib serves as Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design. A renowned automotive designer who previously led design at BMW and Infiniti, Habib created the 'Opposites United' design philosophy that defines the EV6, EV9, and new Sportage.

Who led Kia's transformation following its acquisition by Hyundai in 1998?

Mong-Koo Chung, former Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, oversaw the acquisition and integration of bankrupt Kia Motors in 1998, instituting rigorous quality control systems and standardizing platform sharing across Hyundai and Kia.

How does Kia's executive board maintain strategic independence within Hyundai Group?

While sharing group-level R&D and platform technologies, Kia maintains an independent board of directors, dedicated CEO, separate global sales subsidiaries, independent design studios, and distinct marketing organizations that actively compete with Hyundai.

What corporate milestones did CEO Ho Sung Song achieve during his tenure?

Under Ho Sung Song, Kia's revenue passed ~$71 billion (KRW 100 trillion) for the first time in 2024 and reached a record ~$81 billion (KRW 114.1 trillion) in 2025. The operating margin peaked at 11.8% in 2024. The EV9 (2024) and EV3 (2025) won World Car of the Year.

Who is the CEO of Kia?

Ho Sung Song serves as CEO. He executed one of the most aggressive corporate rebrandings in automotive history in 2021. He officially dropped the word "Motors" from the company name (becoming just "Kia"), introduced a highly modern new logo, and launched "Plan S"—a massive, multi-billion dollar roadmap to transition the company away from gasoline engines toward massive EV dominance.

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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.