Ford Motor Company has named Joel Piaskowski, a design
leader with 24 years of international automotive experience, as its new
director, Design, Ford of Europe, from 1 July.
Piaskowski, 45, replaces Martin Smith,
64, who led Ford of Europe's award-winning design group for the past 10 years.
Smith elected to work on a global project studying the future
direction of Ford design, working closely with Moray Callum, vice president,
Design, Ford Motor Company, until his retirement at year end.
"Martin's leadership and passion for great design not
only invigorated Ford of Europe's line-up but influenced Ford designs
globally," said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product
Development. "In his new role, Martin will continue to help our
world-class design team create future vehicles that are true to our Ford
values, even more distinct from the competition and meaningful to our
customers."
Smith joined Ford in 2004 from General Motors Europe and led
the development of a new exterior design language for Ford of Europe that came
to be known as "kinetic design" - epitomized by bold, dramatic lines
that convey "energy in motion".
Kinetic design ultimately led to the acclaimed designs of
Ford models including the first generation S-MAX and Kuga, fourth generation
Mondeo and second generation C-MAX - as well as defining the design of the
current models of Focus and Fiesta sold around the world.
Smith also directed
the creation of a number of significant Ford concept vehicles, including the
Iosis, Iosis X, Iosis MAX, Verve, Evos and, most recently, the S-MAX Concept.
Piaskowski is currently head of Ford's Strategic Concepts
Group in the US. He will lead the design of all concept and production vehicles
in Europe and support Ford's global design initiatives. Piaskowski will have a
dual reporting relationship to Moray Callum and Joe Bakaj, vice president,
Product Development, Ford of Europe.
"We're fortunate to have someone of Joel's calibre join
our European team to continue our commitment to design leadership and take us
to new heights," said Stephen Odell, president, Ford of Europe, Middle
East and Africa.
Piaskowski was born in Michigan and graduated in 1990 from
the College of Creative Studies in Detroit with a bachelor of fine arts
specializing in transportation design. He joined Ford in 2010 as director,
Exterior Design, The Americas, and has led the team in the creation of several
vehicles, including the recently revealed all-new Ford Mustang and Ford F150
pick-up truck.
In January 2013, Piaskowski was appointed director of Design,
Ford Asia Pacific, based in Ford's Asia Pacific Design Centre in Melbourne,
Australia, and more recently, he returned to Dearborn, Mich., to oversee Ford's
advanced design studios globally.
Prior to joining Ford, Piaskowski was president of Mercedes'
advanced design centre in California from 2009 to 2010, and previously served
for six years as director of design for Hyundai in the U.S. He started his
career at General Motors in 1990, working for more than 12 years on exterior
and interior designs for several brands.
"Joel's international experience and product versatility
are particularly important as we continue to leverage our design talent around
the globe to deliver truly world-class products," said Moray Callum,
Ford's vice president of Design.
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