Hyundai Motor appoints non-Korean as CEO This photo, provided by Hyundai Motor Co., shows Jose Munoz, the company's global chief operating officer and president and CEO of its North American operations for Hyundai and its luxury Genesis brand.

Hyundai Motor on Friday promoted Jose Munoz, the company's global chief operating officer (COO), as its new CEO, appointing a fo

Hyundai Motor Co. named Jose Munoz as chief executive officer, making him the first foreigner to lead the South Korean automaker as it seeks to grow outside its home country.

Hyundai Motor will name Jose Munoz, the current global chief operating officer, as its new chief executive officer later on Friday, a news report said, citing unnamed industry sources. If confirmed, it will be a rare appointment of a foreign national to the top post of a major conglomerate in South Korea,

Hyundai Motor Co. on Thursday named Jose Munoz as the next president and CEO of the South Korean automaker, effective Jan. 1.

Jose Muñoz, COO of Hyundai Motor Co. and CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America, will step into the top position at the global automaker at the start of the new year.