Ford Names Joel Piaskowski Head of Design, Ford of Europe; Martin Smith to Head Future Design Project, Retire at Year End
28 Maggio 2014 - 3:30PM
Business Wire
- Joel Piaskowski, a design leader with
24 years of international experience, is named director, Design,
Ford of Europe, effective July 1
- Piaskowski replaces Martin Smith, who
has led Ford of Europe’s design team for the past 10 years. Smith
elected to work on a global project studying the future direction
of Ford design until his retirement planned for year end
- Under Smith’s leadership, Ford of
Europe developed its influential “kinetic design” language and
oversaw the design of such successful models as the Focus, Fiesta,
Kuga, S-MAX and Mondeo as well as Ford concept cars including Iosis
and Evos
- Piaskowski, currently head of Ford’s
Strategic Concepts Group, joined the company in 2010 as director,
Exterior Design, The Americas, and led the team in the creation of
several vehicles, including the recently revealed all-new Ford
Mustang and Ford F-150 pickup
Ford named Joel Piaskowski, a design leader with 24 years of
international automotive experience, as its new director, Design,
Ford of Europe, effective July 1.
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 lineup 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.
Succeeding Smith is Joel Piaskowski, currently head of Ford’s
Strategic Concepts Group in the U.S. 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 caliber 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.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 183,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide,
the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The
company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit
Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products
worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and
servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs
approximately 47,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and
approximately 67,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated
businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company,
Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and
22 manufacturing facilities (13 wholly owned or consolidated joint
venture facilities and nine unconsolidated joint venture
facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 –
the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production
started in 1911.
For news releases, related materials, photos
and video, visit www.fordmedia.eu or www.media.ford.com.
Follow www.twitter.com/FordEu or
www.youtube.com/fordofeurope
Ford Motor CompanyJohn Gardiner, +49 221 901
9985jgardin2@ford.com
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