Len Hunt Is Loving Kia

By Marty Padgett November 28th, 2005

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Len Hunt is glad to get a crack at running Kia Motors. The new COO of the Korean carmaker’s U.S. unit had been tapped to run worldwide marketing for Bentley at Volkswagen. “I looked at my schedule of one posh glad-handing event after another, many of them on the weekends, and I thought…I’m too young for that kind of life,” said Hunt during a recent chat in New York.

Hunt was presiding over a frustrating time at Volkswagen. Before being named to run Bentley marketing, a job he never formally took over, he had run the VW brand in the U.S. for about 18 months as sales and profits fell. To be fair, that had more to do with VW’s quality woes, lack of correct product, and a weak dollar. Still, Hunt did manage to direct a less than inspiring ad launch of the new Jetta and Passat.

At Kia, Hunt doesn’t plan to do too much tinkering with the master plan. “I’m not changing the blueprint, because the strategy is right,” says Hunt. His biggest surprise, he says? That the Spectra beat Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic on J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Survey.

He does plan to talk to his new Korean bosses about juicing up some versions of Kia’s products. A turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Spectra5 is on his wish list. At VW, Hunt got the German automaker to the SEMA show for the first time with R-GT packages for the Jetta and Touareg. He also thinks Kia should have a pickup, and that such a vehicle probably makes more sense for Kia than Hyundai. —Jim Burt

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8 Responses to “Len Hunt Is Loving Kia”

I’d like to get ahold of Len Hunt….

I Help Corps. get into the Sub-Prime business… by setting
up Departments and Lending Opportunities… Training of Staff is a must… Also Proper data and procedure management.

Please contact me… 303-567-1314

In my 25 year motor industry career, Len Hunt was the most inspiring, intelligent, and human manager I have worked for. He is a great loss to the VW family and a big gain for Kia. Good luck to you Len!

The most charasmatic, down to earth and professional head of Audi UK to date.

It was a shame he left to head up the US market and even more a shame that he hasn’t returned yet

Good luck Len

I can’t help but smile when I think of Len, he has that sort of effect on people. He’s been a great supporter of my contribution to Jaguar and Audi over the years and I wish him a very very happy time at Kia.
I’ll have to consider buying a Kia now…done the Jaguar and the Audi…
All the best to you Len and maybe hear from you someday.
00 44 1684 576245

One of the greatest things that could ever have happend to me during the early part of my working career, was to have the opportunity to work under Mr. Len Hunt. His leadership and insperation has helped shaped my views. Len I wish you all the best from South Africa.
Nathan

I remember Len when he was nothing.

I hope that while Len Hunt is loving it at KIA, he is an honest man who realizes that KIA has been ripping off its consumres for too long. I bought a BRAND new KIA rio and was guranteed that it was one of the best most efficient vehicles on the market. I hope for the consumers sake that is not true. I have had to have the car in the shop on numberous occassions because check engine light came on 5 months after I bought it and it misses out and is a SAFETY hazard. KIA will take no responsibilty for this. I want to return car, they just want to keep fixing same problem. Every 2 weeks - month check engine light returns and starts missing out. They know that this car connot be fixed so they will not take it back. If you go to consumer reports on KIA you will see that they are doing the american people very wrong. These cars are made in South Korea and no one here in America can fix them so they blame it on the consumer. They drag it out and act like they are doing something so that if you try to use the lemon law you have surpassed the lemon law qualifications before you realize what they are doing. It is their standard procedure to rip off and do wrong those who trusted in their product, which KIA can’t stand behind or step up to the responsibility of being a company anyone would want to do business with. I am ashamed that I was convinced to purchase the car I bought from KIA. I have purchsed new vehicles on many occassions but this is the first time I felt like I was sold a new car by a crook. I am now seeking legal action against this company. I have given them free advertisement on my back window stating that I am driving a KIA LEMON. If Len Hunt has changed from what he was that caused him to leave Audi and VW he needs to prove it and do right by the KIA owners who are being railroaded by this company. PAY ATTENTION TO THE CONSUMERS MR HUNT. LISTEN TO WHAT THEY ARE SAYING. These consumers have alot of concerns with their vehicles that are being ignored and it has been going on too long. How does Len Hunt sleep at night ($$$) along with the other KIA Administrators knowing their main business goal is to rip off the American public with their Korean made cars? He needs to inspire honesty and good business relations with his consumers. Not inspire those who work for him to do consumers wrong and make it seem right. Do you Mr Hunt drive a KIA? Nor, do your employees. When asked why they just laugh.

I am sorry. Not Consumer Reports. Go to CONSUMER AFFAIRS on KIA. Thank you.