BMW 7 series designer takes over as new design chief

42-year-old Lebanon-born Canadian Karim Habib is the new head of BMW Design beginning June 1. Habib, designed the current 7 Series, and will report to senior vice president Adrian van Hooydonk, of BMW Group Design.

Habib, started at BMW in 1998, and returned last year after directing Mercedes-Benz’s advanced design studio for nearly two years. Habib worked on a variety of cars, including the 2007 Concept CS sedan. He possess experience in both interior and exterior design and held roles like team leader advanced design for the BMW Group and BMW exterior design department chief.

"Karim Habib is an outstanding designer who has had a significant impact on the design of the BMW brand over many years. His longstanding experience and subtle instinct for timely elegance and dynamics are the ideal prerequisites for this demanding task," said van Hooydonk in a statement.

“I feel very honoured and I look forward to this new challenge. Now I have the opportunity of working together with a great team to shape the future face of the BMW brand,” expressed Karim Habib.