Karim Habib gets promotion at Kia
The experienced designer joined in 2019 but already seems to be making quite an impression
Kia has promoted Karim Habib, currently head of global Kia design, to executive vice president, a move that comes as part of wider executive appointments within Hyundai Motor Group.
On making the announcement, Kia praised Habib’s design leadership and in particular his involvement with models like the EV9 SUV and EV6 – the electric successor to the Stinger that catapulted the brand into a sportier, more premium segment.
Part of Habib’s role moving forward will be to “establish and enhance” Kia’s design identity as the group pushes ahead with electrification, although it is not clear what the promotion will entail in terms of day-to-day activities and added responsibilities. We will report back when we learn more.
Habib attributed his step up to the “amazing dedication, talent and passion” of the global Kia design team that has helped to push the boundaries of design. Amid the various promotions that have gone on in 2022 alone, a hat tip must go to those who have recognised the wider teams that helped them get there. For example, in October, Ben Payne attributed his increased responsibility at Lotus to the “creativity and spirit of the entire team.”
Habib joined Kia in 2019 from Infiniti, where he served as executive design director for two years and worked on projects including the QS and QX Inspiration concepts, as well as the Prototype 10 speedster.
Prior to that, he held various positions at BMW Group between the late 1990s and 2017, with a brief tenure as senior advanced design manager at Daimler between 2009 and 2011. Now an experienced designer, Habib graduated from the Transportation Design course at Art Center College of Design.
Habib’s promotion comes shortly after another senior appointment within the group; Luc Donckerwolke was named earlier in December as president of Hyundai Motor Group – an endorsement of the significance of design within the wider organisation.