Laurens van den Acker: Mazda Appoints New Global Head of Design

Laurens van den Acker Mazda Appoints New Global Head of Design
Mazda has appointed Laurens van den Acker general manager of the company's Design Division.

He is responsible for the overall design and styling of all of Mazda's global products, replacing Callum, and reports to Seita Kanai, senior managing executive officer in charge of Mazda ' s R&D as well as Mays.

Before joining Mazda in January as deputy general manager, Design Division, van den Acker was chief designer of Strategic Design in the Dearborn Advanced Studio.

Prior to that assignment, he held several different design positions during his seven years with Ford, including chief designer for the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner and chief designer of the Brand Imaging Group.

"Laurens' global experience and strengths as a brand and product strategist make him uniquely qualified to take the already strong lineup of Mazda designs to a new level," Mays said.

"His contributions to key vehicles - including the Ford Model U, 427 and Bronco concepts - demonstrate his ability to imagine the future on our customers' behalf and pay that vision out in sheet metal."