Stellantis NV has hired longtime Hyundai Motor Co. executive Michael Orange for a top role under CEO Antonio Filosa as the automaker attempts to jumpstart its U.S. sales this year, three people familiar with the move said.

The automaker confirmed Thursday that Orange was appointed to lead its U.S. sales and network performance and would report directly to Filosa, who along with his CEO duties also serves as the North American chief operating officer.

Orange takes over for Jeff Kommor, who had led the automaker's domestic sales team in different capacities for more than five years. Stellantis said Kommor is retiring after more than 40 years with the company.

Orange for more than a year has served as Hyundai's vice president of national sales, overseeing the automaker's sales teams and all of its regions. The company has posted sales records during his tenure.

Filosa has continued to fill his top leadership team after taking over last year, including in the highly profitable North American market — a central focus of the automaker's turnaround push. The company said Orange will focus on bolstering U.S. retail sales and growing market share.

Filosa, after his appointment to CEO, has continued to hold onto his previous position overseeing North American operations and is closely watching the U.S. sales turnaround efforts as the automaker tries to reverse a steady market share slide from double digits down to just 7.6% last year.

Filosa thanked Kommor for his long tenure with the company and for "navigating significant periods of transformation." He said Kommor — who will stay on during a transition period — had been respected both by his sales team and the 2,400-member dealer network.

Orange, Filosa said, would bring "great ingredients to Stellantis," including building teams and improving dealer profitability. Stellantis dealers have struggled with their profitability in the last couple of years as the automaker's sales tanked.

Hyundai dealers, meanwhile, were told of Orange's sudden departure Tuesday. A memo from Randy Parker, Hyundai Motor North America's president and CEO, said Orange had decided to leave "to pursue an opportunity outside the company." Orange's Linkedin profile was no longer visible on Wednesday and his executive profile on Hyundai's website had been taken down.

Claudia Marquez, Hyundai Motor America's chief operating officer, will oversee the automaker's U.S. sales operations after Orange's departure as the company hunts for a successor.

Orange was well-liked among Hyundai's U.S. dealer body, one retailer said, and has received credit for helping Hyundai sales surge above 900,000 last year. The company has set five consecutive annual sales records. He served in several other Hyundai management positions since 2008, rising through regional and national sales roles, and previously worked for Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.

"Michael has been a valued leader and partner during his time with Hyundai, including in his work with our dealer body," the message to Hyundai dealers from Parker said.

Stellantis could use some of that sales mojo that Orange had at Hyundai. Its U.S. market share has plummeted in recent years at the expense of competitors including Hyundai, and it now sits in sixth place among domestic automakers.

While Stellantis has found some positive sales momentum recently, including a 4% gain in the first quarter, its turnaround hasn't materialized as fast as many dealers had hoped, and it has missed some recent internal sales growth goals.

The automaker had set an ambitious goal to start the year of increasing its U.S. retail sales by 25% in 2026 as it leans into selling more big gas-powered pickups and SUVs and churns out more of its all-new hybrid Jeep Cherokee SUVs.

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