Way forward: HMCA’s new COO, John Kett, said he is looking forward to playing his part in ensuring the Korean brand’s “unrivalled” ambition is achieved in Australia.

EXPERIENCED motor industry executive John Kett, who has worked at the highest levels in Australia and throughout Asia, has joined Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) as its chief operating officer.

Filling the crucial position at HMCA that was made vacant when Scott Grant left the company in January to become chief operating officer of Cricket Australia, Mr Kett has spent the past year as general manager of GM Holden’s car-sharing subsidiary, Maven Australia.

He stepped up to this role at Maven about a year after returning to Australia – and coming ‘home’ to Holden – in the first half of 2017 as the company’s director of Go to Market (retail and product marketing), having spent more than a decade in Asia, most notably China, where he was responsible for growing Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ presence in the world’s biggest automotive market and overseeing its activities across the region, including Australia and New Zealand.

A former vice-president of FCA based in Shanghai, Mr Kett had risen to Asia-Pacific general manager of operations and head of the Jeep brand throughout the region before unexpectedly leaving the company in July 2015 after more than seven years as one of the Italian-American auto giant’s senior-most executives outside the US.

Mr Kett had moved to Shanghai upon joining FCA in 2008 as CFO for the region – moving up to CEO a year later – armed with extensive experience and a strong knowledge of Asian markets from roles such as vice-president and CFO of SsangYong Motor in South Korea and, prior to that, CFO for General Motors China Group from 2001 to 2004.

This key financial role for GM in China came up about a decade after Mr Kett began his automotive career with Holden in 1989, whereupon he quickly moved through the ranks and after seven years spent a year with GM China before relocating to GM New Zealand as CFO. He also had a stint as CFO and chief informational officer for GM Indonesia.

More recently, during the 18-month period between leaving FCA and returning to Holden, Mr Kett remained in Shanghai as an automotive adviser for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

As COO of HMCA, Mr Kett reports to chief executive JW Lee and will play a pivotal role in Australia’s number-three automotive brand, which has designs on deposing Mazda for second position in the marketplace but, like most other leading brands, is currently preoccupied with battling the industry downturn.

Its sales to the end of July are down 8.9 per cent against the overall market’s 7.7 per cent decline.

In a statement, Mr Kett said it was “a great honour to join Australia’s third-largest car company as chief operating officer”.

“Hyundai’s ambition, both in Australia and globally, is unrivalled – not only for its pace in product development, but for its determined movement into autonomy, hydrogen, electric vehicles, mobility services and connectivity,” he said.

“I’m sure we will see even more success in the years to come, and I look forward to being part of that success.”

Mr Lee said: “John has an impressive track record in the automotive industry and has achieved great results throughout his long career. I am sure he will be a highly successful and inspirational chief operating officer.”

By Terry Martin