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Paul Willis is quitting as chief operating officer of Kia Motors Europe to become head of Volkswagen in Ireland.

Willis, 48, leaves Kia just nine months after joining the Korean carmaker.

He will succeed Bob O'Callaghan as managing director of Volkswagen Group Ireland on October 1. O'Callaghan is retiring.

Before joining Kia, Willis, a Northern Ireland native, was VW brand director in the UK. He has held various senior posts within BMW, Mazda, Toyota and Ford in the UK.

VW said Ireland is an increasingly important market for the carmaker.

From January to July, the Volkswagen group delivered 29,792 vehicles to customers. It's market share in the country is 18.3 percent.

Willis's appointment coincides with the transfer of responsibility for the import business of Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles from O'Flaherty Holdings to Volkswagen.

You may e-mail Paul McVeigh at pmcveigh@craincom.de