Hyundai Motor Exec Leaves Amid Turmoil

For the second time in less than a year, Hyundai Motor America Inc. has lost its top American executive in what industry insiders say is an ongoing power struggle between the company’s U.S. headquarters and corporate offices in South Korea.

Robert Parker, Hyundai’s senior vice president for sales and marketing, resigned abruptly Tuesday, just 11 months after taking the No. 2 post. Parker was not available for comment and Hyundai officials in Fountain Valley did not disclose the reason for his resignation.

But Hyundai has been in turmoil for some time now. The company has been hurt at home by South Korea’s economic crisis and has launched a worldwide review of its overseas operations with an eye to cutting costs.

In the U.S., that has translated so far into layoffs that cut 64 jobs from Hyundai Motor America’s corporate payroll, equal to about 11% of its domestic employment.

Parker’s departure might also have been hastened by January sales figures that show rival Kia Motors America, based in Irvine, exceeding Hyundai’s monthly total even though Kia has about 100 fewer U.S. dealerships.