HYUNDAI Motor Company Australia (HMCA) president and CEO Don Romano has been promoted to the additional role of president of Asia Pacific for Hyundai Motor.

Under the new role, Mr Romano will retain his position as CEO and president of HMCA, overseeing both the Hyundai and Genesis brands, and share time between Sydney and Jakarta.

Mr Romano is a 40-year veteran of the automotive industry and joined HMCA in March 2025.

Don Romano, CEO and president Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) and President of Asia Pacific for Hyundai Motor

Prior to his move to Australia, he was for 10 years the president and CEO of Hyundai Auto Canada, during which time the brand achieved record sales and profit growth.

Mr Romano has been recognised several times by Automotive News as an Automotive All Star. In addition, he was the recipient of Canadian Black Book’s Industry Icon Award and the Women’s Executive Network for his contribution to diversity and equality in the workplace.

His first year of stewardship in Australia was highly successful. Hyundai sales grew 7.7 per cent year-on-year and Genesis was up 14.4 per cent.

Mr Romano also championed Genesis’ retail transformation, opening two new showcases in Sydney including the brand’s first agency partnership with CKD Automotive.

Asia Pacific is a key region for Hyundai Motor, spanning 32 countries including Malaysia, Australia, the Philippines and Thailand, with manufacturing plants in Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore.

Mr Romano said: “As I take on this new responsibility in Asia Pacific, I am filled with both purpose and optimism. This region is dynamic, diverse, and full of untapped potential.”

“Together with the teams in every Asia Pacific market, we will embrace and foster innovation, collaboration, people development, and a global mindset.

“It is an honour to be promoted to the role, and I look forward to leading Hyundai Motor Asia Pacific to a strong and sustainable future.”