- Szymon Walus promoted to Senior Vice President, Head of Hyundai Motor Company Strategy and Governance
- Rob Grafton promoted to Senior Vice President, Head of Global Dealer Network Development, Hyundai and Genesis
- Trevor Hale appointed to Vice President, Public Relations and Communications
Hyundai Motor Company announced three key leadership appointments today, reinforcing its commitment to strategic growth, global engagement, and operational excellence. These executives will report to José Muñoz, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company and will assume expanded responsibilities as Hyundai continues evolving and strengthening its industry position. Their proven expertise and vision will drive the company’s success in 2025 and beyond.
“These leadership appointments reflect Hyundai’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and strategic growth. Szymon’s strategic vision will drive our long-term success, Rob’s leadership in dealer network development will strengthen our global operations and Trevor’s extensive communications expertise will enhance our brand’s global presence,” said José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. “Each of these leaders brings invaluable experience to their roles, and I am confident they will significantly impact Hyundai’s future.”
Executive Appointments
Szymon Walus is promoted to Senior Vice President, Head of Strategy and Governance for Hyundai Motor Company. In his role, Walus will oversee the company’s business strategy planning while also managing the Hyundai Motor Company governance office. Walus will continue to be Senior Vice President, Head of Strategy and Governance for the Hyundai Motor Americas Strategic Region. Walus has been with Hyundai since August 2022 and has spent 20 years in the automotive industry; achieving success in various commercial, strategic planning and consulting roles based in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Prior to joining Hyundai, Walus was a Partner and Associate Director at Boston Consulting Group based in France, held various leadership positions at Nissan Motor Corporation based in Europe, Asia and the U.S., and was a consultant at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants in Germany. Walus holds an MBA from Niagara University in the U.S. and a bachelor’s degree from Reutlingen University’s School of International Business in Germany.
Rob Grafton is promoted to Senior Vice President, Head of Global Dealer Network Development, Hyundai and Genesis. Grafton will oversee all dealer network activities in global operations including Genesis. Grafton will continue to be part of Hyundai Motor North America as Senior Vice President and Head Dealer Network Development for the region. Prior to Hyundai, Grafton spent more than 20 years at Nissan North America in various sales and regional leadership positions. Grafton holds an MBA from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business & Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business & Economics from California State University, Fullerton.
Trevor Hale is appointed to the newly created role of Vice President, Public Relations and Communications based in Washington, D.C. Hale will be responsible for communications for the company’s business initiatives and the Hyundai and Genesis brands. He will also report to President Sung Kim, Head of Hyundai Motor Group Strategic Planning Division and former U.S. Ambassador. Prior to joining Hyundai, Hale was the CEO of Hale Global Communications and a senior advisor for Hyundai. A former journalist, Hale has extensive corporate experience leading communications for Mercedes-Benz, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and INFINITI in roles based in North America, Germany, China, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong. Hale was named a distinguished alumnus at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, where he earned a bachelor’s degree.
Effective March 2025, these appointments align with Hyundai’s business strategy, which focuses on organizational agility and leadership excellence. The company remains committed to promoting top talent from within while also attracting external expertise to shape its future growth and transformation.
