Kia South Africa has welcomed Paul Turnbull as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Turnbull’s Transition from Hyundai
Turnbull joins the Korean automaker from its sister company, Hyundai Automotive South Africa. He takes over from Gary Scott, who is assuming the role of Chief Digital Officer at Kia’s parent company, Motus Holdings.
Turnbull’s Extensive Automotive Background
Turnbull, 51, a Johannesburg native, embarked on his automotive career at 22, joining Wheels of Africa, then the distributor for Hyundai in South Africa, as a sales coordinator. By 25, he became the company’s youngest dealer principal.
Following the liquidation of Wheels of Africa in 1999, the Hyundai distributorship shifted to Associated Motor Holdings, a division of Imperial Holdings, which later became part of Motus Holdings. Within these networks, Turnbull progressed to regional director in 2005 and eventually became the Managing Director (MD) of Hyundai’s retail division in 2023.
Optimism for Kia’s Growth in South Africa
Turnbull is optimistic about the growth potential for the Kia brand in South Africa. He expresses excitement about joining Kia despite the current economic challenges impacting the entire automotive industry.
Turnbull acknowledges Kia as a “brilliant brand with brilliant products” and sees immense opportunities for the brand to accelerate its remarkable growth over the 25 years it has been active in South Africa.
Market Share Expansion Target
Despite the industry’s challenges, Turnbull remains confident about Kia’s growth trajectory. He aims to boost Kia’s market share beyond 5% within the next two years.
Turnbull emphasizes the importance of enhancing profitability within the retail network to strengthen the trust and confidence of shareholders and retail investors in the Kia brand.
Key Focus Areas for the New CEO
A primary focus for Turnbull is to realign expectations and ensure that the right individuals are in the appropriate positions. He has also approved further investments in the training and development of staff to support the brand’s growth objectives.