Bruce signed a three-year contract to replace former England international Nick Barmby, who was sacked last month for publicly questioning the club's ambitions.
The 51-year-old ex-Wigan manager is the Tigers' fifth boss in just short of 15 months after he was selected by owners Assem and Ehab Allam ahead of Mick McCarthy, Billy Davies and Lee Clark.
Bruce, a former Manchester United defender, has previously led Birmingham to promotion from the Championship and immediately set his sights on taking Hull back into the Premier League for the first time since 2010.
"I'm looking to bring back the Premier League days if we possibly can, that's the reason I'm sitting here, for the challenge of it," Bruce said.
"There were a few weeks of talks and negotiations and I'm now relishing the challenge of getting the club back to where it wants to be."
Sunderland finished 13th and 10th in the Premier League in Bruce's first two seasons in charge at the Stadium of Light, but he was sacked last November with the Black Cats close to the relegation zone.
Source: AFP
Source: AFP