Hyundai Motor Europe Welcomes Xavier Martinet as New President and CEO in 2025

Hyundai Motor Europe (HME) has announced that Xavier Martinet will take over as President and CEO, succeeding Michael Cole, who will step down from his role on December 31, 2024. Martinet will officially assume leadership at HME’s Offenbach, Germany headquarters starting January 1, 2025.

Martinet joins HME with more than 27 years of experience in the automotive industry. His career began in 1997 at Renault, where he held various roles, advancing through Sales and Marketing positions across Europe and the United States. His roles included Sales Manager at Renault Retail Group, Managing Director of Renault Italia, and later, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the Dacia brand. Most recently, Martinet served as Senior Vice President of Commercial Services and held additional senior roles within Dacia’s Marketing Sales and Operations.

In a statement about his new role, Martinet expressed enthusiasm for joining Hyundai Motor, recognizing it as a technology and innovation leader within the automotive industry. He emphasized his commitment to leading Hyundai Motor Europe’s teams in the direction of sustainable growth, with a focus on customer satisfaction and collaboration with dealers and import partners.

Jose Munoz, President and Global Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), remarked on Martinet’s extensive European experience and proven leadership, stating that the company looks forward to welcoming him to the Hyundai team.

Martinet will succeed Michael Cole, who has served as HME’s President and CEO since July 2020. Cole’s contributions to Hyundai span over 15 years, including two years as President of Kia America, more than five years as Chief Operating Officer of Kia Europe, and three years as Managing Director of Kia UK. Cole’s tenure at HME has been marked by his role in enhancing Hyundai’s presence in Europe and steering the company toward its goal of becoming a leader in mobility solutions.

Reflecting on Cole’s departure, Munoz acknowledged Cole’s impactful leadership at HME, highlighting his role in driving Hyundai’s growth across Europe and expressing the company’s gratitude for his contributions.

Cole shared his thoughts on his departure, noting that after over 40 years in the automotive industry, he plans to return to the UK to spend more time with family. He reflected on his career, describing Hyundai Motor Group as a progressive organization and expressing pride in his work with the HME team, whom he believes will continue to support Hyundai’s growth trajectory in Europe.

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