Belgian car designer returns to Korean brand as executive vice president and chief creative officer.
Former Hyundai Group head of design operations, Luc Donckerwolke, has rejoined the firm that he resigned from just over six months ago.
The celebrated Belgian designer has returned at an executive vice president level in a new position that allows him to be based at Hyundai’s Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany. His title will be chief creative officer and head of design communications for the Hyundai Group.
Donckerwolke first joined the group in 2016, taking over from Peter Schreyer as global chief designer. As well as shaping the look of the latest Genesis models, he was influential in adapting Hyundai and Kia’s design language for the latest generation.
Prior to that he had an illustrious career at the Volkswagen Group as chief designer for Lamborghini, Seat and Bentley, also holding lesser roles at Skoda and Audi. He’s credited with designing the first generation Skoda Octavia and Fabia, the Audi A2, the Lamborghini Murcielago and Gallardo, and the Bentley Flying Spur, plus numerous other vehicles.
His new role will see him push the growth of the Genesis luxury brand and the newly established Ioniq sub-brand, among other things. Hyundai and Genesis’ global design department will continue to be led by SangYup Lee, with Karim Habib responsible for Kia design.
Lawrence Allan