Kia Connect appointed Olivier Pascal as President and CEO

• Olivier Pascal appointed President and CEO of Kia Connect, effective 1 January 2026
• Pascal has more than 15 years of automotive industry experience in the European mobility sector
• He succeeds Marc Hedrich and Pablo Martínez Masip, who continue with other leadership roles within Kia France and Kia Europe, respectively
• Marc Hedrich and Pablo Martinez Masip step down as President & CEO and COO of Kia Connect, respectively
• The number of Kia Connect users reached two million in January
• In December 2025, Kia Connect released 3D visualisations of EV9 to celebrate the milestone of one million Kia App users

Kia Connect has announced that Olivier Pascal has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2026.

Pascal most recently served as General Manager of Connected Cars at Kia Connect, leading European connected vehicle experience, data, and business development initiatives. With more than 15 years of experience in the automotive industry, he has held leadership roles across dealerships, as well as regional and global headquarters, spanning engineering, sales, marketing and technology.

In recent years, Pascal has played a pivotal role in expanding Kia Connect’s services, supporting millions of drivers and positioning the company as a leader in digital mobility and data-driven solutions. In his new role, Pascal will lead Kia Connect’s connectivity, digital, data, and charging initiatives, with a strong focus on customer experience, innovation and sustainable growth in Europe.

“Kia Connect’s mission is to make every driving and charging journey smarter, safer, more convenient, and more personal,” said Olivier Pascal, President and CEO of Kia Connect. “In 2026, we will deliver tangible value for our B2C and B2B customers and partners, higher-quality features, a truly personalised digital experience, scalable B2B services, and a robust charging solution. By combining innovation, unique customer experiences, responsible data use and operational rigour, we will build sustainable growth and a platform that supports Kia brand differentiation and business success in Europe.”

Marc Hedrich and Pablo Martínez Masip step down as President & CEO and COO, respectively. In their roles, they drove strategic alignment and operational performance across multiple European markets. While Hedrich has been appointed President of Kia France, Martinez Masip will continue to serve as Vice President of Product and Marketing at Kia Europe.

Dedicated to maximise the customer experience
Kia Connect develops a fully integrated digital ecosystem with connected car services, digital mobility solutions, and charging services, supporting almost two million users across Europe. These initiatives support Kia’s wider transformation toward software-defined, customer-centric, and electrified mobility across Europe.

Rolled out last May, the Kia App enhances the digital experience by bringing Kia Connect, Kia Charge, and ownership services into a single interface, with ongoing development planned in areas such as charging and smart-city integration. The platform enhances convenience, safety, and efficiency throughout ownership.

The platform delivers a broad offering of features, such as Remote Vehicle Status, Vehicle Diagnostics, and Find My Car, alongside app-based control of charging, climate, and locking functions. Regular Over-The-Air (OTA) updates keep vehicles future-ready, with recent releases introducing more than 150 functional improvements and new features driven by customer feedback.

New 3D visualisation functionality
With the latest December update, the Kia App now offers 3D visuals of the EV9, giving drivers a clearer and more tangible view of their vehicle right on their phones. The new model includes a simple visualisation that brings the EV9 to life and helps users explore its shape and design in a more natural way, as it reflects the actual configuration of each user’s EV9, including exterior colour, wheel design, sunroof, and seat layout.

While modest in scope, this update reflects a steady shift toward making the app experience feel more connected to the actual vehicle. It offers drivers a more intuitive visual touchpoint—something that feels closer to the real car they interact with every day. After evaluating the performance of the EV9 3D model, Kia plans to expand the scope of this feature with additional EV models in 2026.

Ends

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