Karim Habib to Become Head of BMW Design

Jason · 05-23-2012, 04:49 PM

BIMMERPOST NEWS

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BMW Design under new leadership.

23.05.2012

Karim Habib will take over as Head of BMW Design on 01.06.2012. The 42-year-old Lebanon-born Canadian has been in charge of Exterior Design BMW Automobiles since March 2011. He joined the BMW Group design team in 1998 and, among other achievements, shaped the design of the current BMW 7 Series.

Following his studies in Canada and California, Karim Habib had various posts in interior and exterior design before becoming Team Leader Advanced Design for the BMW Group and later heading the BMW Exterior Design department. Now the designer and engineer takes overall charge of the design of BMW cars.

“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,” says Karim Habib.

“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. I look forward very much to his support and collaboration,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.

Current BMW design heirarchy (posted by EnI):

Quote:

So the BMW Group Design Department hierarchy chart looks like that:

1.
Head of BMW Group Design (Adrian van Hooydonk)
.

1.5
Head of BMW Group Design Strategy & Advance Development (Verena Kloos)
.

2.
Head of BMW (Automobile) Design (Karim Habib)
Head of BMW M & Individual Design (Ulf Weidhase)
Head of BMW i Design (Benoit Jacob)
Head of MINI Design (Anders Warming)
Head of RR Motor Cars Design (Ian Cameron)
Head of BMW Motorcycles Design (Edgar Heinrich)
Head of BMW DesignworksUSA & California Studio (Laurenz Schaffer)
.
.

3.
Head of * Exterior Design (*BMW = empty; *MINI = Marcus Syring; *RR = Giles Taylor)
Head of * Interior Design (*BMW = Marc Girard; *MINI = Oliver Sieghart; *RR = Alan Sheppard)
Head of BMW DesignworksUSA Studios: Munich (Niko Saurma); Singapore (Magnus Aspegren); Shanghai (Gerhard Steinle)
.
.

4.
Head of Interior Trim, Colors & Materials
Head of Wheels Design
Head of Clay Modeling
Head of CAD/CAM Design
etc.

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duk · 05-23-2012, 05:33 PM

awesome!

hoodie · 05-23-2012, 05:37 PM

Just my 2cents, but I feel that BMW needs some sharper lines.

danno_e90 · 05-23-2012, 05:39 PM

congratss, my favorite car designed by a middle eastern. This guy must be great. Im proud of him

aajami · 05-23-2012, 05:47 PM

Lebanese represent

MDaniel · 05-23-2012, 06:04 PM

Since he show up, with his vision, BMW took a huge step, this is the next step to the continuation of a brilliant design work. With this brilliant designer, i can ensure that BMW will continue to give us The Ultimate Driving Machine, with Ultimate Design.

Christian.F · 05-23-2012, 06:11 PM

aywa!!!! This is great news...

Pentium · 05-23-2012, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cfrem15

aywa!!!! This is great news...

adamm3k · 05-23-2012, 06:30 PM

He penned the CS.

johnca · 05-23-2012, 06:35 PM

I hope to see new design in the future of BMW

Diver · 05-23-2012, 06:39 PM

BMW has a consistent design language. New models evolve from old. It is important that a BMW looks like a BMW, and that takes more than the kidney grills.

Maz335i · 05-23-2012, 06:53 PM

Awesome! Wish him all the best!!!

uhn2000 · 05-23-2012, 07:00 PM

Being of Lebanese background but born in Canada I am very proud of Karim. I knew that when he came back from Mercedes that there was something good in store for his future! An amazing designer.

sawzall · 05-23-2012, 07:01 PM

Go Canada!

tmurphy2 · 05-23-2012, 07:13 PM

Congrats, as a Lebanese American this makes me proud, just don't get too middle eastern and make the cars gaudy!!!

JerezblackM3 · 05-23-2012, 07:40 PM

Awesome. Wish him the best! Don't bring us Lebanese people down! Make us proud by designing the best

Majority of Lebanese people around the world just love BMW. We are in good hands

Vector Pilot · 05-23-2012, 08:09 PM

Adrian van Hooydonk had a short but significant term transforming BMW... I too welcome Karim Habib.
Highest Regards.

bmerguy · 05-23-2012, 08:09 PM

half of me is extatic! the other half wants a Mexican to be in charge

OdomPHD · 05-23-2012, 08:22 PM

Please be creative with an eye to the future. Please..

Zebra99 · 05-23-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmerguy

half of me is extatic! the other half wants a Mexican to be in charge

Lmao ^^

e92ben · 05-23-2012, 08:31 PM

Awesome!! My brothers haha

bimmerJP · 05-23-2012, 08:34 PM

So, does he replace anyone in BMW? If so, who does he replace then?

05-23-2012, 05:33 PM	#2
duk ///M 158 Rep 3,195 Posts Drives: 2011 AW/FR 6MT E92 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0)	awesome! __________________ 2011.5 AW/FR E92 M3 6MT
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05-23-2012, 05:37 PM	#3
hoodie Private First Class 9 Rep 110 Posts Drives: 08 328i coupe Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1)	Just my 2cents, but I feel that BMW needs some sharper lines.
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05-23-2012, 05:39 PM	#4
danno_e90 Private 4 Rep 80 Posts Drives: R53 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Troy, Michigan iTrader: (1)	congratss, my favorite car designed by a middle eastern. This guy must be great. Im proud of him
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05-23-2012, 05:47 PM	#5
aajami Brigadier General 432 Rep 4,567 Posts Drives: Space Gray '09 E92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA iTrader: (4)	Lebanese represent __________________ '09 E92 M3: Space Gray, Black, Carbon Leather \| ZTP 2MK ZPP 2MT 6FL \| link 1 / link 2 Mods: M Performance exhaust \| ZCP retrofit \| Euro airbox \| GTS DCT flash \| JPN 240 ECU flash \| Euro LCI taillights \| CRT lip \| OEM alarm retrofit \| Space Gray bumper plugs \| BMW Performance: Mk. II spoiler / Mk. II non-electronic steering wheel / mirror caps / front grilles / side gills / intake louvers / emblem
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05-23-2012, 06:04 PM	#6
MDaniel Private 2 Rep 50 Posts Drives: Opel Signum Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Portugal iTrader: (0)	Since he show up, with his vision, BMW took a huge step, this is the next step to the continuation of a brilliant design work. With this brilliant designer, i can ensure that BMW will continue to give us The Ultimate Driving Machine, with Ultimate Design.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-23-2012, 06:11 PM	#7
Christian.F First Lieutenant 45 Rep 383 Posts Drives: F97 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M3 [0.00]	aywa!!!! This is great news...
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05-23-2012, 06:30 PM	#9
adamm3k Private First Class 52 Rep 133 Posts Drives: e92 AW M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	He penned the CS.
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05-23-2012, 06:35 PM	#10
johnca Second Lieutenant 12 Rep 289 Posts Drives: E46 Slow CSL Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	I hope to see new design in the future of BMW __________________
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05-23-2012, 06:39 PM	#11
Diver Brigadier General 504 Rep 3,446 Posts Drives: Black '12 135i - Sold Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	BMW has a consistent design language. New models evolve from old. It is important that a BMW looks like a BMW, and that takes more than the kidney grills. __________________ See my photography at http://ronscubadiver.wordpress.com
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05-23-2012, 06:53 PM	#12
Maz335i BMW 4 Life... 148 Rep 3,360 Posts Drives: 2015 SO M3 (on order) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mississauga, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Awesome! Wish him all the best!!! __________________ MODS: * / M Sport + Performance / Meisterschaft / Challenge / MORR / more to come! *
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05-23-2012, 07:00 PM	#13
uhn2000 Big K... 171 Rep 1,717 Posts Drives: M3CS BX7 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Being of Lebanese background but born in Canada I am very proud of Karim. I knew that when he came back from Mercedes that there was something good in store for his future! An amazing designer. __________________ Many fun toys... M3CS XB7 FTW!
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05-23-2012, 07:01 PM	#14
sawzall Major 50 Rep 1,285 Posts Drives: A Car Join Date: May 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 911S [10.00] 2011 911 GT3 RS [0.00]	Go Canada!
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05-23-2012, 07:13 PM	#15
tmurphy2 Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 240 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Hartford, CT iTrader: (0)	Congrats, as a Lebanese American this makes me proud, just don't get too middle eastern and make the cars gaudy!!! __________________ e92 335i sport[/B] 2 GO: Cobb AP Stg 2+, Macht Schnell DPs, Injen intake, Spearco FMIC, Velocity throttle booster, DBA 4000xs rotors, Vibrant Performance catback, Synapse BOV & charge pipe, Hancook V12 EVOs 4 SHOW: DCT paddles, cusco strut, piano black trim, Mtech bumper, aero lip, 19" Miro 111's, angel eye, black: window trim, side mark, kidneys
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05-23-2012, 07:40 PM	#16
JerezblackM3 First Lieutenant 55 Rep 330 Posts Drives: e92 m3 dct Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: lebanon iTrader: (0)	Awesome. Wish him the best! Don't bring us Lebanese people down! Make us proud by designing the best Majority of Lebanese people around the world just love BMW. We are in good hands __________________ SicknTuned Performance
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05-23-2012, 08:09 PM	#17
Vector Pilot Lieutenant 35 Rep 501 Posts Drives: 2014 Z4 28i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chicago Metro iTrader: (0)	Adrian van Hooydonk had a short but significant term transforming BMW... I too welcome Karim Habib. Highest Regards. Last edited by Vector Pilot; 05-24-2012 at 09:13 AM..
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05-23-2012, 08:09 PM	#18
bmerguy Private First Class 9 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 335i sedan Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: sd iTrader: (8)	half of me is extatic! the other half wants a Mexican to be in charge
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05-23-2012, 08:31 PM	#21
e92ben Brigadier General 1053 Rep 3,205 Posts Drives: BMW M3 BMW 635csi Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Kenosha Wi iTrader: (7)	Awesome!! My brothers haha __________________ e92 ///M3
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05-23-2012, 08:34 PM	#22
bimmerJP First Lieutenant 11 Rep 380 Posts Drives: 2008 e90 335i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Texas, the United States of America, Planet Earth, Universe iTrader: (0)	So, does he replace anyone in BMW? If so, who does he replace then?
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