Ford Appoints New Asia Pacific Design Director

MELBOURNE – April 16, 2013: Ford has appointed Joel Piaskowski as its new Director of Design, Asia Pacific, based in Melbourne.

In this position, Piaskowski has overall responsibility for the design of new products developed within the Asia Pacific region. He is based in Ford's Asia Pacific Product Development Centre in Melbourne but will also lead the design teams in China and India.

He reports directly to Martin Smith, Executive Design Director, Europe and Asia Pacific.

“I’m really excited by the new opportunity here in Australia,” Piaskowski said. “Australia is recognised as one of three global centres of excellence for design in the Ford world and I look forward to helping drive the team to even greater heights.

“You only have to look at the great portfolio of products that come out of Australia – Figo, Ranger, Falcon and Territory to date, with more to come – to know that Australia truly designs for the world.”

After joining Ford in October 2010, Piaskowski became Ford’s North American Director of Exterior Design, filling a position previously vacated by Moray Callum, who was promoted to Executive Director of Ford Americas design.

He has held a number of key design positions in Europe, North America, and now in Australia and is credited with leading the teams responsible for creation of several highly acclaimed vehicles for both Asian and European carmakers.

Born and raised in Michigan, Piaskowski graduated from the College of Creative Studies in 1990, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, specialising in Transportation Design.

Piaskowski replaces previous Design Director, Christopher Svensson, who took Piaskowski’s former position in the United States. Svensson had been at Ford Australia since June 2010.