After 28 years with Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. and serving as its President and CEO since 2002, Steve Kelleher has elected to retire on April 30. Replacing Kelleher on May 1. will be Donald Romano who currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.
Steve Kelleher
Under Kelleher’s guidance, the Hyundai brand has witnessed a period of tremendous growth in Canada and is now one of the dominant players in the Canadian automotive marketplace. Over the past 10 years in particular, the company’s dealer network has grown to 210 locations, while sales and market share have more than doubled. Additionally, Hyundai products have won numerous, prestigious Canadian automotive awards.
“It’s with a tremendous sense of accomplishment and pride that I am able to announce my retirement from Hyundai Auto Canada,” remarked Kelleher. “Working for Hyundai in Canada has been an incredibly rewarding, exciting, and challenging experience. My retirement is something I have been working toward for some time and I’m able to make this step because we have found the right person in Don Romano to take Hyundai to the next level of success.”
Romano joined Hyundai Auto Canada in January after accumulating over 29 years of automotive experience through increasingly senior positions in Canada, the U.S., and overseas representing the Nissan, Mazda, and Toyota brands.
Romano’s extensive operations and marketing background is seen as key to helping Hyundai continue to push its brand into a more premium position in the industry. The introduction of the all-new Genesis premium sedan at the Canadian International AutoShow in February was his first step in that direction, and will be followed by the launch of the new Sonata on April 16 at the New York International Auto Show.
“Hyundai has achieved unprecedented sales growth over the past decade. To continue that trend, it will be my responsibility to challenge all aspects of our operations and elevate our performance in every area of our business” said Romano.
“We would like to recognize Steve Kelleher’s unparalleled service to the Hyundai brand and congratulate him on a truly exceptional career,” said Tak Uk Im, Executive Vice-President & COO, Head of International Operations Division, Hyundai Motor Company. “Due to his courage and skilled leadership, Hyundai grew remarkably and emerged as a leader in Canada. For 28 years he served with honour, distinction, and strength of character. We are, and shall remain, forever grateful.”
Donald Romano
Kelleher originally joined Hyundai Auto Canada in 1986, three years after the automaker first entered the Canadian market. It was under Kelleher’s tenure as President and CEO that Hyundai witnessed its most significant growth in Canada.
In 2002, the company sold 66,917 new vehicles from a line-up of products bearing six nameplates at 156 dealerships nationwide. By 2013 that had grown to a record total of 137,100 new vehicle sales from 210 dealerships showcasing 12 nameplates.
Under Kelleher’s watch Hyundai Auto Canada as seen three of the brand’s vehicles win top national automotive awards — 2009 Canadian Car of the Year (Hyundai Genesis), 2012 Car of the Year (Hyundai Elantra) and 2013 Canadian Utility of the Year (Hyundai Santa Fe Sport).
Additionally, during Kelleher’s tenure Hyundai Auto Canada also launched its first Corporate Social Responsibility program, Hyundai Hockey Helpers in 2012. A national program that provides grants to help kids pay for equipment and registration fees to play organized hockey, Hyundai Hockey Helpers has to date, helped 4,778 kids get into the game. Kelleher grew-up playing hockey and attributes much of his career success to the lessons he learned from the sport.
“Hockey teaches kids how to work with a team, resiliency, good sportsmanship, and the value of hard work. On or off the ice, those are skills every child should have the opportunity to learn,” said Kelleher.
“On behalf of all the Hyundai employees and dealers that have worked with Kelleher over the years, I would like to thank him for his visionary guidance,” said Donald Romano. “The single best way we can honour his investment of time and energy is to dedicate ourselves to our business and ensure Hyundai continues to succeed. He has led us on a path to new heights and it’s now our responsibility to continue that trend.”
