Kia vs Morgan Stanley: Founders, CEOs and History
Kia was founded in 1944 by Kim Chul-ho and is led by Ho Sung Song. Morgan Stanley was founded in 1935 by Henry S. Morgan, Harold Stanley and is led by Ted Pick.
Company facts
Kia
- Founded
- 1944
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Current CEO
- Ho Sung Song
- Employees
- 53,200
Morgan Stanley
- Founded
- 1935
- Headquarters
- New York, New York, United States
- Current CEO
- Ted Pick
- Employees
- 83,000
Founders
Kia
Kim Chul-ho
Kia possesses a gritty, foundational founding story, rooted in the desperate industrial infancy of Korea, long before it became an automotive leader, starting entirely with the pragmatic, meticulous manufacturing of bicycle parts.
Morgan Stanley
Henry S. Morgan
Henry S. Morgan co-founded Morgan Stanley in 1935 after the Glass-Steagall Act required J.P. Morgan & Co. to separate its securities business from commercial banking.
Harold Stanley
Harold Stanley (1885-1963) co-founded Morgan Stanley in 1935 alongside Henry S. Morgan. Following the passage of the Glass-Steagall Act, which forced banks to separate commercial and investment banking, Stanley left J.P. Morgan & Co.
CEOs and their tenures
Kia
- Euisun Chung2005–present
Executive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group; Kia Board Member
Credited with starting the design-led turnaround that changed how buyers saw Kia.
Source - Han-woo Park2014–2020
Former President and CEO
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 - Ho Sung Song2020–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
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
Morgan Stanley
- James Gorman2010–2023
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Gorman's tenure moved Morgan Stanley toward recurring fee revenue. He became executive chairman after stepping down as CEO and left the board at the end of 2024.
Source - Ted Pick2024–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Under Pick, Morgan Stanley reported record 2025 net revenues of $70.6B and record Q2 2026 results.
Source
Timeline: Kia and Morgan Stanley side by side
1935Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley Founded
Henry S. Morgan and Harold Stanley officially launch the top investment bank following the historic Glass-Steagall split.
1944Kia
Founding of Kyungsung Precision Industry
Kim Chul-ho establishes a modest workshop in Seoul dedicated to the manufacturing of steel tubes and bicycle parts, laying the humble groundwork for what would eventually become a global automotive leader and a vital contributor to South Korea's post-war indus…
1974Kia
Launch of the Brisa, Kia's First Passenger Car
Kia launched the Brisa, its first passenger car, built at the Sohari plant that opened in 1973. Kia had built motorcycles and light trucks before this, and the Brisa made it a carmaker.
1986Kia
Launch of the Pride and Global Export Expansion
Through a partnership with Ford and Mazda, Kia returned to passenger cars with the Pride. Abroad it was sold as the Ford Festiva, and it gave Kia its first large export volumes.
1996Morgan Stanley
Acquired Van Kampen American Capital
Morgan Stanley acquired Van Kampen American Capital in 1996.
1997Morgan Stanley
Merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co
Morgan Stanley merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co in February 1997.
1998Kia
Hyundai Motor Acquires Kia
After Kia collapsed in the 1997 Asian financial crisis and went into court receivership, Hyundai Motor won the 1998 auction for it, beating Ford among other bidders. Kia stayed a separate brand within the new Hyundai Motor Group.
2006Kia
Recruitment of Peter Schreyer
The enterprise makes the radical decision to hire former Audi design chief Peter Schreyer as its head of design, initiating a profound aesthetic revolution that introduces the well-known tiger-nose grille and elevates the brand from a budget alternative to a p…
2008Morgan Stanley
Bank Holding Company Conversion
Facing total catastrophic collapse, the firm converts into a traditional bank holding company to survive the global financial crisis.
2009Morgan Stanley
The Smith Barney Acquisition
then-CEO James Gorman masterminds the acquisition of Smith Barney, instantly creating a dominant retail wealth management leader.
2011Kia
Launch of the Optima and the Design Renaissance
The Schreyer-designed Optima (K5) sedan brought Kia's new design language to a wide audience and helped it charge more and reach new buyers.
2018Morgan Stanley
Acquired Mesa West
Morgan Stanley acquired Mesa West in March 2018.
2020Kia
Announcement of the 'Plan S' Strategy
Kia announced Plan S, its mid- to long-term strategy to move from a combustion-focused carmaker toward EVs, purpose-built vehicles and mobility services. In January 2021 it renamed itself Kia Corporation.
2020Morgan Stanley
E*TRADE Acquisition
Morgan Stanley dominates the self-directed brokerage market by acquiring E*TRADE for $13 billion.
2021Kia
Launch of the EV6 and the E-GMP Platform
The company introduces the award-winning EV6, the first dedicated electric vehicle built on the modular E-GMP platform, showcasing ultra-fast 800-volt charging capabilities and groundbreaking design, instantly establishing the enterprise as a serious technolog…
2021Morgan Stanley
Acquired Eaton Vance
Morgan Stanley acquired Eaton Vance for $7 billion. Morgan Stanley acquired Eaton Vance for about $7B, completed in March 2021, adding Parametric, Calvert, and Atlanta Capital.
2023Kia
EV9 Launch
Kia launched the EV9, a three-row electric SUV on the E-GMP platform, which went on to win the 2024 World Car of the Year award.
2024Morgan Stanley
Ted Pick Appointed CEO
Following a competitive internal succession, Ted Pick takes the helm to heavily drive the integration strategy.
2025Kia
FY2025 Revenue Reaches KRW 114.141 Trillion
Kia sold a record 3,135,873 vehicles and reported FY2025 revenue of ~$81 billion (KRW 114.1 trillion) (+6.2%). Operating profit fell 28.3% to ~$6.45 billion (KRW 9.08 trillion) as US tariffs cost more than $2.13 billion (KRW 3 trillion).
2026Kia
2030 Targets Set at CEO Investor Day
At its April 2026 CEO Investor Day, Kia set 2030 targets of ~$121 billion (KRW 170 trillion) in revenue, a 10% operating margin and 4.13 million sales. Q2 2026 revenue was a record ~$23.5 billion (KRW 33.04 trillion).
Acquisitions
Kia
- Takeover by Hyundai Motor (Kia acquired)1998Undisclosed
- Asia Motors1976Undisclosed
Morgan Stanley
- Eaton Vance2021$7B
- E*TRADE2020$13B
- Smith Barney2009Undisclosed
Questions about Kia vs Morgan Stanley
Who is the CEO of Kia Corporation and Morgan Stanley?
Kia Corporation is led by Ho Sung Song and Morgan Stanley is led by Ted Pick. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Kia Corporation founded vs Morgan Stanley?
Morgan Stanley was founded in 1935 — 9 years before Kia Corporation, which was founded in 1944. Morgan Stanley's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Kia Corporation.
How many employees does Kia Corporation have compared to Morgan Stanley?
Kia Corporation employs approximately 53,200 people, while Morgan Stanley employs approximately 83,000. Morgan Stanley has the larger workforce at 83,000 employees, compared to Kia Corporation's 53,200. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Kia Corporation and Morgan Stanley headquartered?
Kia Corporation is headquartered in South Korea and Morgan Stanley is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Kia Corporation and Morgan Stanley?
Kia Corporation was founded by Kim Chul-ho. Morgan Stanley was founded by Henry S. Morgan, Harold Stanley.
Which company has a longer operating history — Kia Corporation or Morgan Stanley?
Morgan Stanley has been operating for approximately 91 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Kia Corporation has been in operation for around 82 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Kia vs Morgan Stanley overview