Kia Revolving Door Turns Again as Latest Execs Leave
February 11, 2008

The top two executives of Kia Motors America Inc. are out. The U.S. marketing arm of the South Korean automaker confirmed at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention in San Francisco over the weekend that CEO Len Hunt and Ian Beavis, vice president of marketing, had left the company.

In keeping with the pattern of American execs departing Korean companies, the automaker said the pair resigned; dealer sources told trade publications they got the boot.

Kia and Hyundai, now owned by the same company, have a history of short tenures for executives.

CEO Peter Butterfield was ousted during a dealer dinner in Las Vegas in 2005.

The latest departures come on the heels of Kia Motors Corp. announcing that Byung Mo Ahn was named chairman and group CEO of Kia Motors America as well as head of Kia Motors Manufacturing in Georgia.

Trade publication Ward’s Automotive Reports said executives informed dealers of the pair’s departure only after a dealer stood up during a convention meeting and asked what was going on with Hunt, who had not shown up for the annual meeting.

Hunt joined Kia from Volkswagen of America Inc. in 2005, and was promoted from chief operating officer to CEO and president in November, replacing Butterfield. Beavis joined Kia from Mitsubishi in May 2005.

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