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Nissan marketing executive Mohnke will add sales role



Derrick Hatami, who left Hyundai last January to become U.S. sales chief at Nissan, will return to Hyundai to fill the company’s new vacancy for a U.S. sales chief.



Nissan North America separately announced Dan Mohnke, its chief marketing officer, will take on Hatami's sales responsibilities. His new title is vice president, sales and marketing operations, U.S. He will report to Fred Diaz, senior vice president of Nissan sales and marketing operations, U.S.



At Hyundai, Hatami will report to CEO Dave Zuchowski as vice president of national sales. The announcement of his return came one day after Hyundai announced the abrupt departure of U.S. sales chief Bob Pradzinski, who had held the job since last January.



“Derrick’s strategic outlook, vision, planning experience and commitment to dealers makes him a perfect fit to lead our sales operation,” Zuchowski said in a statement today, adding: “He set sales records with us in his former position and we look forward to him continuing that run at Hyundai.”



Hatami is scheduled to officially rejoin Hyundai on Sept. 4.



Before leaving for Nissan last January, Hatami was general manager of Hyundai’s Western Region. Under his watch, the brand’s market share in the 12-state region increased from 4.5 percent to 7.8 percent.



Hatami started his automotive career at the consultancies Accenture and J.D. Power & Associates, and holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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