South Korean auto giant, Hyundai Motor co has secured the services of luxury marquee’s exterior designer, Sangyup Lee. This is coming after poaching Bently’s design chief last year, says a Reuters report.
According to the report, Hyundai issued a statement saying Sangyup Lee will start work next month as its head of design.
Lee is being brought in to work with Luc Donckerwolke, a Peruvian-born Belgian, to lead Hyundai’s development of its Genesis premium car brand – a project driven by Chung Euisun, heir-apparent to the Hyundai Group.
“Lee will help to enhance the design competitiveness of both the Hyundai and Genesis brands with his abundant experience in designing high-end luxury vehicles,” Hyundai said in its statement.
“His challenging and innovative design languages fit well with the DNA of Hyundai Motor.”
Hyundai Motor, which sells some 8 million cars a year, sees limited growth unless it breaks into new markets, a person close to the automaker told Reuters. For the South Korean firm, that means premium cars and maybe pick-up trucks and parts of Southeast Asia.
Lee said he has joined Hyundai Motor as a vice president in charge of Hyundai and Genesis design, reporting to Donckerwolke, who will head up Hyundai’s new Prestige Design Division, as well as being global head of Hyundai design – a reporting arrangement that Hyundai also confirmed on Monday.
Bentley spokesman Andrew Roberts confirmed Lee “has resigned from Bentley to take a position at another brand.”
Lee, 46, ran Bentley’s exterior design since 2012 having previously worked at Volkswagen group’s design center in California, and General Motors. He played a lead role in designing the Chevrolet Corvette, Stingray and Camaro – which featured in the “Transformers” movies – and Bentley’s Bentayga SUV.
