Mazda Names New Chief for California Design Studio

Mazda Motor Corp. has named Julien Montousse the design director of its Irvine, Calif., studio. He succeeds Derek Jenkins, who left Mazda in July to become vice president of design for an unspecified "stealth project" in Los Angeles.

In his new position, Montousse will be on the team to develop Mazda's seventh-generation design language that is due to bow in 2018 with the next Mazda3.

Montousse, a Paris native, joined Mazda in 2009. He helped create the carmaker's current "Kodo" styling, including the interiors of the current Mazda6 midsize car and next year's MX-5 Miata roadster.

Montousse previously worked for General Motors Co., where his credits include the interior of the 2009 Chevrolet Camaro. He also served as an interior design consultant for the Dragon 2 spacecraft developed by Tesla Motors Inc. CEO Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. venture.