Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith to step aside after 12 years

Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith will step aside from the role after 12 years at the helm, transitioning into an advisory position from June 1, 2026, as current COO Dennis Piccoli takes over leadership of the Korean brand locally.

Kia Australia has confirmed long-serving chief executive Damien Meredith will transition into an advisory role after leading the brand locally since May 2014.

Current COO Dennis Piccoli will assume the CEO position from June 1, 2026, following what Kia described as a planned leadership transition.

During Meredith’s tenure, Kia Australia experienced substantial growth, increasing annual sales from 28,005 vehicles in 2014 to a record 82,105 in 2025 – a rise of 193 per cent.

One of the defining moments of his leadership was the introduction of Kia’s seven-year warranty shortly after joining the company, a move that helped reshape expectations in the Australian new car market.

Outside the automotive industry, Meredith is also known as a passionate supporter of AFL club North Melbourne Kangaroos.

His final major product programs included the launch of the Kia Tasman ute, which recently entered Australian showrooms in one of the country’s most competitive and hard-fought vehicle segments.

The Tasman project had been viewed as a significant milestone for the company locally, although Meredith is unlikely to see the model’s longer-term commercial impact play out from the CEO position.

Before joining Kia Australia, Meredith held senior roles with Hyundai Motor Company Australia and spent more than two decades within the broader Hyundai Motor Group.

“In business and in life, I’ve always said care is the most important word,” said Meredith.

“For me, finding motivated people who care and building a strategy with them has been the most rewarding aspect of my time at Kia. That, and building and maintaining a strong relationship with our dealer network.”

“Now, I look forward to staying connected in an advisory role and ensuring a smooth transition with Dennis as the new CEO.”

Incoming CEO Dennis Piccoli previously served as Kia Australia’s Head of Sales before moving into the COO role and has also held positions with General Motors and Hyundai.

Piccoli takes over as Kia Australia continues expanding its local line-up, including increased electrification efforts and the rollout of the Tasman ute range.

The leadership transition comes as competition intensifies across both passenger vehicle and ute segments, with pressure from Chinese challengers on one side and new emissions laws (NVES) on the other.

Kia says it’s confident it will continue building on the strong sales momentum established during Meredith’s tenure.

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