New Director for Marketing & Product Planning at Kia

Kia Motors Europe is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Benny Oeyen as Director Marketing & Product Planning, with immediate effect. Mr Oeyen will be responsible for the creation and implementation of marketing and product strategies to ensure the long-term success of the Kia brand in Europe. 

Welcoming Mr Oeyen, President of Kia Motors Europe, Mr Sun Young Kim, commented: “I am delighted that we have secured the services of Benny Oeyen for this important new role. He has gained an invaluable in-depth knowledge of the automotive industry over almost two decades. He will be tasked with masterminding the launch and market penetration of all Kia products in line with KME and KMC strategy. Raising the power of the Kia brand, creating synergies across Europe and maximising the effectiveness of our resources will also be top priorities.” 

A 47-year old Belgian, Mr Oeyen brings a wealth of motor industry experience to his new role at Kia. Over the last 19 years he has worked for Ford, Mazda and Chrysler in Europe, before moving to the USA in 2001, as international product manager for export markets based in Detroit. Returning to Europe in 2004, Mr Oeyen was appointed managing director and Member of the Board Daimler-Chrysler Switzerland. Since 2007, he has been director global product marketing and strategy at Chrysler’s headquarters in Detroit, USA. 

Mr Oeyen, who will report directly to President Kim, holds a masters degree from the University of Leuven, Belgium and speaks fluent English, French, Dutch and German.

Editors’ Notes

Kia Motors Europe

Kia Motors Europe is the European sales, marketing, and service arm of Kia Motors Corporation. With its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, it covers 32 markets in Europe.

About Kia Motors Corporation

Kia Motors Corporation ( www.kia.com ) – a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart – was founded in 1944 and is Korea’s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to become one of the world’s premier automotive brands. More than 1.4 million vehicles a year are produced at 13 manufacturing and assembly operations in nine countries. These vehicles are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 172 countries.

Kia today has more than 40,000 employees and annual revenues of almost US$17 billion.

It is the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open.

Kia is also an official automotive partner of FIFA – the governing body of the FIFA World Cup – as well as a EUROTOP partner of UEFA.

Kia Motors Corporation’s brand slogan – ‘The Power to Surprise’ – represents the company’s global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.

Press Contact

Ilona Tzudnowski 
PR Manager Europe
Tel +49 69 850 928 357 
Email i.tzudnowski@kia-europe.com

Kia Motors Europe GmbH
Theodor-Heuss-Allee 11, 60486 Frankfurt, Germany.
Tel +49 69 850 928 352 
Fax +49 69 850 928 399