Kia has recently announced that there will be a new head of dealer development for the company. Ian Kewley was appointed to the position, taking over for the retiring Ian Wilson. Wilson had been an integral part of Kia for nearly 30 years.
Paul Philipott, CEO and president of Kia Motors (UK), gave a statement, taken from motortrader.com, about how important Wilson had been to the company. In it, he said, “Ian is one of the founding fathers of the Kia family in the UK. He has had a vitally important role within Kia every step of the way and we thank him for dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism. He will be greatly missed but I know that he will enjoy his well-earned retirement.”
Wilson made great strides with the company. He helped to make Kia a popular choice for UK drivers. He was responsible for establishing the brand, along with a dealer network, in the UK. He was clearly very successful in this endeavor; Kia sold less than 2,000 vehicles in 1991, and often sell close to that number in a week now.
Kewley clearly has some pretty impressive shoes to fill. Kewley himself has long been a part of the Kia team. Prior to taking the position as head of dealer development, he served as a regional franchise manager. Kewley, like Wilson, has spent considerable time with the company, having worked for Kia for over 25 years.
Though it will be hard to replace Wilson, Kewley is prepared and capable for the position. However, the work that Wilson did to establish Kia in the UK will never be forgotten.
