Alphabiz - Hyundai Motor Group Hires Former Amazon and NASA Executive to Lead Recruitment at Air Mobility Subsidiary Supernal

Photo = Hyundai Motor Group Headquarters

[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Seoul, October 14 — Hyundai Motor Group has appointed Lisa Sherman Medina, a veteran talent acquisition executive with experience at Amazon and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as Head of Talent Acquisition for its U.S.-based advanced air mobility (AAM) subsidiary Supernal.


The move underscores Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung’s commitment to the urban air mobility (UAM) business, dispelling rumors that the group might scale back or abandon the Supernal project amid recent executive turnover.


Strengthening Supernal’s Leadership

According to industry sources cited by Digital Times, Medina began working at Supernal’s headquarters in Irvine, California, earlier this month.

Medina previously led hardware engineering recruitment for Amazon’s satellite internet project and served as Head of Talent Acquisition at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from 2019 to 2022. Her extensive background in aerospace and high-technology hiring is expected to reinforce Supernal’s engineering and leadership recruitment capabilities.

Supernal has faced internal turbulence following the departures of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) David McBride and Chief Safety & Quality Officer (CSQO) Trace Lam, which fueled speculation about a possible slowdown in its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft program.

However, the new appointment signals Hyundai’s renewed focus on talent-driven innovation and its determination to advance the commercialization of AAM technologies.

Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)