BMW's Former Design Chief, Karim Takes Charge as Kia Motor's Senior Vice President

Kia Motors Corporation, a South Korea based automobile manufacturer, names Karim Habib as its Senior Vice President & Head of Design Center. In his new role, Karim would monitor work of Kia’s exterior, interior, color and material teams. He would also assist the team to decide the future design strategy and direction of the Kia brand. The company expects Karim’s appointment would further inflate the design, products and the competitiveness of its brand. Operating from Namyang, Korea, Karim will be reporting to Luc Donckerwolke, Executive Vice President & Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group.

Luc comments, “SVP Karim will be an asset for the Kia brand with his international background and global experience,” he adds, “We highly appreciate Karim’s talent and experience. He is joining Kia at a crucial moment to project the brand into the future of mobility and to reinforce the young-spirited and motivated design team which has won numerous international design awards”.

Karim brings in about 20 years of experience in leading major design products at premium brands. He is known for his extraordinary skills to reflect the brands identity in his designs.

Prior to joining Kia Motors, Karim served as Executive Design Director at INFINITI Motor Company. There he was responsible for the design of brand’s latest concept vehicles. Before INFINITI, Karim was associated with BMW Group & Daimler Group, and held several leadership roles. Karim has completed Mechanical Engineering at McGill University in Canada. Later, he pursued Transportation Design at the Art center College of Design in California.

We highly appreciate Karim’s talent and experience. He is joining Kia at a crucial moment to project the brand into the future of mobility and to reinforce the young-spirited and motivated design team which has won numerous international design awards

Speaking on his appointment, Karim states, “Kia is a growing ambitious brand on a determined path toward electrification and mobility innovation”. He continues, “I am thrilled to be a part of this transformation to strengthen the Kia brand further into the future of the automotive industry, which promises to be full of challenges and opportunities. I look forward to working with CDO Luc Donkerwolke whose work I have admired for many years, as well as the Kia design team that has created some truly remarkable designs”.