Who's Where: Lorenzo Ramaciotti appointed Chief of Design for Fiat Group

Starting June 1, 2007 Lorenzo Ramaciotti will become the new Group Chief of Design at Fiat Group Automobiles. Ramaciotti was snatched up by Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and convinced to head the company's design direction, filling a newly created position that hasn't previously existed at Fiat.

Lorenzo Ramaciotti, who retired from Pininfarina in June 2005 after working for the famed coachbuilder for 32 years, will be responsible for all the Fiat Group brands, including Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Maserati. Ramaciotti is thought to be the successful candidate that will inject some much needed verve into the automaker's designs and attract fresh-thinking young designers to the group.

Ramaciotti, who joined Pininfarina after graduating from the famous Politecnico di Torino with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1972, was appointed General Manager of Pininfarina Studi e Ricerche in early 1988 and later became Managing Director and CEO of Pininfarina Ricerca and Sviluppo in 2002. During the 17 years he headed Pininfarina design he developed approximately 20 concept cars for both Italian and foreign manufacturers, several of which were awarded at the international level.

He also spearheaded the design development of at least ten Ferraris. The very first project for which Ramaciotti is credited full responsibility was the Ferrari 456 GT. Some of his most recent projects include the Maserati Quattroporte, as well as some of the most beautiful Ferraris: the 550 Maranello, 360 Modena, the Enzo, and the current F430 and 612 Scaglietti. The last full design project he directed at Pininfarina was the Maserati GranTurismo recently introduced at the Geneva Motor Show.

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