VW reshapes global design team

VOLKSWAGEN has reassigned Seat design director Luc Donckerwolke as head of advanced design for the entire Volkswagen Group, effective August 1.

Reporting to global design chief Walter de Silva, 46 year-old Mr Donckerwolke brings 19 years’ design experience with VW and its subsidiaries to the role, including head of design at Seat (2005-2011) and Lamborghini (2003-2005).

The move will see Mr Donckerwolke turn out new concepts for the Volkswagen Group, reshaping the future look of vehicles from the European auto giant as he has done in recent years with Seat – as seen in the 2008 Seat Bocanegra and 2007 Seat Tribu – and which he did with Lamborghini with models such as the Gallardo.

After joining VW in 1992, Mr Donckerwolke subsequently moved between the Audi and Skoda brands over the next six years, rising to become studio director at Ingolstadt before being appointed design project manager at Lamborghini in 1998.

Mr Donckerwolke’s successor at Seat will be Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, 43, who worked on a range of VW, Seat and Audi models between 1997 and 2001 before moving to Renault.

Mr Mesonero-Romanos rose to become head of advanced design at Renault in 2007, and in 2009 was appointed design director at Renault Samsung Motors.