Who's Where: Karim Habib appointed Head of BMW Design

Karim Habib has been promoted to the position of Head of BMW Design, a role that will see the 42-year-old Lebanon-born Canadian oversee the design of all BMW cars.

Habib has held the position of Head of Exterior Design since March 2011 and will take up his new role at the start of next month. Habib is perhaps best known for his major contribution to the development of the current BMW 7 Series and Concept CS.

Habib first joined the BMW Group in 1998, eventually working his way to being appointed Team Leader of Advanced Design. He then left the company in 2009, joining rival German carmaker Mercedes-Benz in the position of Senior Manager in charge of Advanced Design, but returned to BMW in 2011 as Head of Exterior Design.

"I feel very honored and I look forward to this new challenge. Now I have the opportunity of working together with a great team to shape the future face of the BMW brand," says Karim Habib.

Habib will report to Adrian van Hooydonk, who remains Senior Vice President of BMW Group Design, overseeing all the group's design functions. Van Hooydonk had this to say on the announcement: "Karim Habib is an outstanding designer who has had a significant impact on the design of the BMW brand over many years.

"His longstanding experience and subtle instinct for timely elegance and dynamics are the ideal prerequisites for this demanding task. I look forward very much to his support and collaboration," he added.

By Rufus Thompson