Hyundai Motor UK has promoted sales director Ashley Andrew to the post of managing director following Tony Whitehorn’s announcement that he would step down from his post at the end of 2018.

Andrew becomes managing director at the Korean brand a year after joining from the post of managing director of FCA UK and was previously head of marketing at Skoda UK.

Before that he was head of operations at Seat UK, and has also held positions at Rolls-Royce, BMW, MINI and Ford during an automotive sector career spanning 20 years.

Andrew takes the helm at Hyundai after Whitehorn announced that he would end his 13-year tenure – culminating with his role as the brand’s president and chief executive in the UK – and will report directly to Hyundai Motor Europe’s head of sales organisation and chief operating officer, Thomas Schmidt

“I am really excited to be taking the reins of one of the top ten car manufacturers in the UK, after Tony’s very successful 13 year tenure,” said Andrew.

“There is no doubt that we are facing challenging times that have, and will continue to impact on our industry, however Hyundai is well positioned to continue to outperform the market.

“Moving forward, my role is to ensure that we continue to focus on delivering the right products and services to our customers whilst also delivering a robust and profitable business plan.

“Our Company is progressive, innovative, leading the charge in terms of eco mobility and has an exciting portfolio of new products yet to come, so I am confident we will continue to drive the brand forward.”

Hyundai Motor UK said in a statement published today (January 2) that Andrew’s appointment had come as the business entered a new period of consolidation after a decade of meteoric growth and it looks to further solidify its position in Europe with the development of a regional headquarters.

It said that the new European business unit would extend its previous responsibility across every aspect of the business, ranging from product planning, marketing, sales, and manufacturing.