Ford's Strategic Design Chief Resigns

David Woodhouse, who had been Ford Motor Co.'s director of global strategic design for the last two years, has resigned from the company, Automotive News reports.

In a Facebook post, Woodhouse described the decision as “difficult” but didn’t elaborate. Ford confirmed the move.

Woodhouse joined Ford in 1999 as part of the carmaker’s now defunct Premier Automotive Group that comprised Aston Martin, Lincoln, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercury and Volvo. He later served as chief designer at Ford’s design studios in London and California.

In late 2013, Woodhouse was appointed design director of the Lincoln brand, where he helped implement the luxury brand’s touted “quiet flight” styling philosophy. He continued to oversee Lincoln’s design after being named director of strategic design.

Prior to joining Ford, Woodhouse was a designer for BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and General Motors’ Cadillac unit in Europe. He holds a master’s in design from London’s Royal College of Art.