Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Avikus, HD Hyundai’s specialized Autonomous Navigation Technology subsidiary, announced today it has refreshed its approach to marketing with the appointment of Erik Irvin as Technical Support Manager and Michell Hur as Project Specialist/Project Manager. Irvin and Hur will work with the team to drive brand awareness in the marine industry. Further, Avikus has retained Clear Glass Media Solutions to refine its digital footprint with a redesign of the Avikus U.S. website and creation of digital advertising content.
With over 20 years of progressive leadership in the marine industry, Irvin is recognized as a strategic and results-driven executive specializing in technical operations, service innovation, and organizational transformation. Throughout his career, Irvin has held pivotal roles within leading marine service providers, where he spearheaded complex initiatives, led multidisciplinary teams and engineered high-impact service protocols.
His comprehensive expertise spans advanced marine systems, fiberglass and composite repair, hull refinishing, electronic systems integration, and large-scale infrastructure modernization. Irvin’s work with industry leaders such as Marine Max, Sailonyx, NauticEdge Consulting and Foster’s Yacht Services underscores his unique ability to optimize performance through data-informed process design, strategic planning and hands-on mentorship.
Renowned for his operational foresight and commitment to excellence, Irvin combines technical acumen with a client-centric mindset – consistently exceeding expectations in high-demand, technology-driven environments. His leadership is defined by adaptability, integrity and a relentless focus on elevating service standards across the marine sector.
With a multidisciplinary background in user experience and product design, Sung Yeon “Michell” Hur plays a key role in supporting the U.S. office and product development team at Avikus, where she leads the planning, execution and evaluation of AI-integrated marine technologies. Her focus is on ensuring Avikus’ cutting-edge products meet design and usability standards while delivering competitive value in the recreational marine and AI technology sectors.
Hur works cross-functionally with global teams and external agencies – including engineers, product designers, marketing, PR and consulting partners – to foster innovation and enhance user adoption. She also contributes to customer experience quality assessments, field testing – both for engineering validation and user experience – and product showcases at major industry events, such as boat and trade shows.
Blending her expertise in human-centered AI and global design leadership, Hur has collaborated with Google, 3M, Deloitte, Royal Caribbean and SiriusXM, as well as AI research at Seoul National University. Her design foundation spans art and branding projects with Christie’s and the beauty industry in Hong Kong, bringing a global perspective to every product she works touches. Recognized by over 80 international design awards, including Red Dot, IDA, European Product Design, Indigo, and Core7, Hur is known for her ability to bridge design and engineering, elevate system usability and craft experiences that resonate across industries and cultures.
Clear Glass Media Solutions is a creative intelligence studio dedicated to turning ideas into impactful digital experiences. The team leverages innovative storytelling, precise analytics and seamless technology integration. Their services include strategic go-to-market planning, compelling website design, dynamic social media management, CRM integration and insightful business intelligence dashboards. With a tailored approach to design, Clear Glass Media ensures captivating visual content, targeted marketing strategies and interactive digital solutions. They are focused on helping brands clearly connect, engage and inspire their audiences, driving measurable results and enhancing their online presence.
“We are very excited about our new direction adding exceptional talent to the team and refreshing our digital content,” said Paul Petani, Managing Director, Avikus USA. “Both Erik and Michell bring a depth of experience to the team, and we are confident in their abilities. Clear Glass has already had a profound impact on how we perform, and we know they will be a valuable asset to our efforts.”
For more information about Avikus, please visit avikus.us.
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About AVIKUS:
AVIKUS, a startup specialized in autonomous navigation solutions, was established in December 2020 by HD Hyundai, the world’s No. 1 shipbuilder. The company’s accolades include the successful completion of an autonomous operation demonstration of 12-seater cruise ship over the 10km Pohang Canal for 40 minutes without human intervention, as well as the world’s first autonomous navigation cross the ocean with their HiNAS (Hyundai Intelligent Navigation Assistant System) Control AVIKUS presented its autonomous navigation technology at CES2022, and recently announced the successful completion of phase 2 of its autonomous navigation solution, HiNAS Control, in conjunction with winning the orders of 23 large ships from two of the world’s major ship builders.