Ford Names New Design Chief for Europe

Joel Piaskowski has been chosen to lead Ford Motor Co.'s design group in Europe, effective July 1, Bloomberg News reports.

The 45-year-old designer will succeed Martin Smith, 64. Smith will work on a global project about Ford's design direction until he retires at the end of the year.

Piaskowski currently heads Ford's Strategic Concepts Group in Dearborn, Mich. He began his design career at General Motor before moving to head Hyundai's U.S. design unit and then shifting to Daimler's Mercedes-Benz design group in California. He joined Ford in 2010.