Seoul, South Korea – December 19, 2024 – Stéphane Deblaise, CEO of Renault Korea Motors, has been named the '2024 Automotive Person of the Year' in the Industry Innovation category by the Korea Automobile Journalists Association (KAJA). The award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the automotive industry and its promotion.
Deblaise, who took the helm of Renault Korea in 2022, has been instrumental in the company's resurgence. His engineering background has been pivotal in leading the 'Aurora Project,' a comprehensive initiative aimed at developing new hybrid and electric vehicles. With a planned investment of over 1.5 trillion won by 2027, Deblaise has set an ambitious course for Renault Korea.
The Grand Koleos, the first model born from the Aurora Project and launched in September, has been a resounding success in the domestic market, surpassing 10,000 units in sales in the shortest time for any new Renault Korea model.
Hans Yoon, CEO of BMW Group Korea, received the Industry Contribution Award for his over three decades of service in the import car industry. Yoon has been credited with expanding the domestic import car market and setting new industry standards.
In the Public Relations category, Hwang Kwan-sik, Executive Vice President of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation, and Moon Ji-hee, Vice President of Welcom Associates, were honored for their exceptional work. Hwang has been instrumental in effectively communicating Hyundai Motor Group's advanced technologies and future vision through major events such as the Busan Motor Show, New York Auto Show, and the IONIQ 9 world premiere. Moon has been instrumental in driving the sustained growth of BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce brands in the Korean luxury and premium market since 2012.
The 'Automotive Person of the Year' awards, initiated in 2019, recognize outstanding achievements in four categories: Industry Innovation, Industry Contribution, In-house Public Relations, and Public Relations Agency. A panel of judges, comprising KAJA's executive committee, board members, and advisors, selects the winners based on nominations from over 200 automotive journalists representing 58 media outlets.
At the award ceremony held at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, KAJA President Choi Dae-yeol emphasized the significance of the awards, stating, "The 2024 Automotive Person of the Year honors individuals who have illuminated the automotive industry and encourages them to continue their efforts in driving industry development. We applaud all the winners for their outstanding contributions."
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