After a summer spent working at Ford, in their European Brand Team, during her time at university Helen found that what had initially been an exercise in gaining valuable work experience had actually turned into a fascination with such an exciting and dynamic industry.
Helen has worked in the automotive industry for 21 years and joined Kia as Regional Business Manager in 2016. She has worked in her current role for five months and is responsible for a team managing the current and future UK product line up and pricing, as well as planning UK production requirements to ensure stock levels meet the needs of the business.
Helen is Kia’s representative in the UK Automotive 30% Club and takes part in the Club’s outreach events, and engages in many activities to help gain a better gender balance across the industry. These include; visits to schools to promote awareness of the motor trade as an interesting, dynamic, challenging and fun industry to school girls, informal internal mentoring, co-founder of Kia Women, raising the profile of gender diversity with senior management team, and Helen was also the first female general manager in Kia UK.
Upon hearing the news of being an Inspiring Automotive Woman, Helen commented: “I was a bit shocked and generally quite chuffed. Pleased and proud to have made an impact.”
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