• by Karl Greenberg , February 13, 2007

Hyundai Motor America, after seven months without a head marketer, has hired Joel Ewanick for the vice president of marketing job, and David L. Zuchowski as vice president of sales.

Ewanick was director of brand planning at Hyundai's agency since 2002, The Richards Group, and before that was marketing head at Porsche in North America. Zuchowski had been vice president of sales and field operations at Mazda North America, and before that held various positions at Ford Motor Co.

Fountain Valley, Calif.-based Hyundai has been operating without a vice president of marketing since last September--when, a month after the arrival of COO Steve Wilhite, Michelle Cervantez departed. Cervantez had only been on the job at Hyundai since August 2005. During the months of her tenure, sales slid, with September 2006 sales dropping 13% versus the same month in 2005.

"Joel has demonstrated innovative and creative marketing approaches during the time he has worked with us while at The Richards Group," said Wilhite in a release. Ewanick will report to Wilhite.

"[Zuchowski] has a remarkable record of terrific support for dealers and improving dealership operations while consistently increasing sales," he added.

Hyundai spent $560 million on domestic advertising through the first 11 months of 2006, per Nielsen Monitor-Plus.

Hyundai's U.S. sales have leveled off after years of exceptional growth, with 2006 sales essentially flat, at 455,520 vehicles delivered. The company posted an 8% decline in sales in January this year.