Who's Where: BMW announces personnel changes in top design positions

BMW's latest internal reshuffle has seen Domagoj Dukec appointed as head of exterior design, Martina Starke as head of color and material design and Oliver Heilmer as head of interior design.

Dukec, a Pforzheim graduate, has previously worked for Volkswagen and Citroën where he played a key role in developing a new Citroën aesthetic with the C4 coupé, C5 Airscape, C5 (Mark II), Hypnos and GQ Concept. Since moving to BMW's exterior design team in 2010 he has been credited with the design of the Concept Active Tourer.

BMW's new head of color and material design Martina Starke joined the BMW Group in 2001 and her responsibilities have included color and material design for the larger series cars. 

Starke began her training as an apprentice textile pattern designer before studying textile design at the Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Prior to joining BMW as a color and material designer in 2001, she worked as a freelance textile designer specializing in textiles and interior carpeting.

Oliver Heilmer, who has been part of the Interior Design team since 2000, is credited with the design of the F10 5 Series' interior amongst others. 

The man he replaces, Marc Girard, moves to head up the Automobile Design team at BMW DesignworksUSA.

"As head of BMW Group Design I'm very proud of the wealth of talent in my team. I am convinced that through this restructuring we have given a significant boost to design in the individual brand studios and will continue to shape the future of BMW Group Design with success," says Adrian van Hooydonk, senior vice president BMW Group Design.

The announcement follows a personnel change in July where Christopher Weil was appointed head of exterior design for Mini, replacing Marcus Syring, who moved to take up the position of head of Rolls-Royce exteriors.

By Rufus Thompson