NEW KIA APPOINTMENTS TO HELP SPEARHEAD FURTHER EUROPEAN GROWTH

Alexandre Papapetropoulos

• Kia Europe bolsters management team to support plans for strategic growth across the region
• Alexandre Papapetropoulos promoted to Director of Product and Pricing
• David Hilbert moves from Kia UK to become Marketing Director
• Technologically advanced electrified line-up and refreshed brand positioning to further raise Kia’s European profile and market share

January 27, 2022 – Kia Europe has announced the promotion of two key personnel into new roles at the company’s European Headquarters in Frankfurt. Alexandre Papapetropoulos moves to the role of Director of Product and Pricing, while David Hilbert joins the team as Marketing Director. Both appointments will underpin the future growth of Kia in Europe, following the company-wide rebrand last year.

Since the start of his automotive career, Papapetropoulos has worked with luxury and mainstream brands in many major European markets. A background in engineering and business delivered a unique combination of skills to his various product marketing and strategy roles prior to joining Kia Europe in 2019. Despite being with Kia for only three years, Papapetropoulos has transformed the direction of the Product Planning function and carefully curated a new team focussed on connectivity and innovation.

As Director of Product and Pricing for Kia Europe, Papapetropoulos will lead the upstream and downstream phases of product development and product management. This will also encompass Product Planning, Product Marketing and Pricing, while his technical and engineering expertise will enhance the development of Cross Carline Technologies.

David Hilbert

Also joining the team in Frankfurt is David Hilbert, who becomes Marketing Director at Kia Europe. Hilbert brings eighteen years of automotive marketing experience from his various roles in the auto industry. He joined Kia UK as Marketing Director in 2016 and was responsible for Marketing Communications, Product and Production Planning, Marketing Programmes and MECA* strategy.

During his time in the UK, Hilbert supported Kia’s continual and rapid growth and was instrumental in helping Kia achieve record-breaking market share of 5% in 2021. As Marketing Director for Kia Europe, Hilbert will oversee the Pan-European Marketing team responsible for Brand and Strategic development, Marketing communications, Digital transformation, Social Media, Press and Corporate Communications.

Sjoerd Knipping, Vice President Marketing and Product of Kia Europe, commented, “We are delighted to welcome two esteemed colleagues into their new roles at such an exciting time for Kia Europe. We have ambitious plans for further tech development and market share gains with new electrified products and refreshed brand positioning. The appointments of Alexandre and David bring fresh vigour to our leadership team, and I look forward to supporting them in maximising the brand’s potential.”