Hyundai U.S. marketing chief Dean Evans to depart

Hyundai Motor America’s hard-charging marketing chief, Dean Evans, is leaving the Korean automaker after “four highly successful years” to pursue a new business opportunity, the company said Friday.

Brian Smith, the COO of Hyundai’s U.S. arm, will take over Evans’ duties on an interim basis.

“Hyundai is greatly appreciative to Dean for his contributions,” the automaker said in an emailed statement. “Under his guidance we’ve consistently produced some of the best and most memorable Super Bowl advertising and have modernized our digital marketing and lead generation activities.”

Evans, 52, a 2013 and 2018 Automotive News All-Star, is responsible for a series of aggressive initiatives at Hyundai, including data-driven marketing efforts to raise the automaker’s profile among consumers online.

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