Hyundai Motor Group said on the 3rd (local time) that it appointed former U.S. State Department diplomat Michael Kleine as head of its Washington, D.C., office overseeing government relations in the United States.
Kleine, the new head, has followed the path of a career diplomat. He served as chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia and, at the U.S. Embassy in Korea, as minister-counselor for economic affairs, supported the conclusion and ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He also handled economic and diplomatic affairs in Australia, Laos and Vietnam.
At the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), he served as senior adviser on Korea and Japan trade policy, directly taking part in formulating Northeast Asia trade policy.
Hyundai Motor Group said the appointment aims to further strengthen cooperation with the U.S. government in step with manufacturing investment, technological innovation and the expansion of the automotive industry ecosystem in the United States.
Sung Kim, president in charge of strategic planning at Hyundai Motor Group, said, "The appointment of Michael Kleine as head shows Hyundai Motor Group's firm commitment to the U.S. market," adding, "Based on his experience in trade and policy, we expect him to play an important role in expanding our U.S. operations." Kim is also a former U.S. State Department official.