Neil Brooker Named Executive Director, Operations for BMW's DesignworksUSA

NEWBURY PARK, Calif., April 16 -- DesignworksUSA, the California-based design studio of the BMW Group, announced today that veteran automotive and product executive Neil Brooker has been appointed executive director, operations. Charged with day-to-day operation of the studio, he will report directly to DesignworksUSA president Adrian van Hooydonk.

``We're very pleased that Neil has joined us in this key role,'' said van Hooydonk. ``His broad experience across numerous companies, brands and business areas, and his excellent leadership abilities, will make him integral to our growth and long-term success.''

Prior to joining DesignworksUSA, Brooker served as head of planning, operations, modeling and development programs for Porsche AG at the Porsche Styling Studio in California. During his three-year tenure he initiated and implemented the strategy for expanding Porsche's client design consulting business to the west coast and worked on advanced Porsche concept vehicles and production programs. Previously, as vice president and general manager of Samsung Design America, Brooker directed automotive product design, engineering and modeling as well as brand strategies. He segued to Samsung from work as a managing consultant for AT Kearney following eight years at International Automotive Design (IAD) where he was responsible for the strategic planning and direction of its Asia/Pacific expansion. Brooker began his career at IAD in 1980 in program management, overseeing project control for IAD programs such as the Lincoln Towncar and Mazda Miata, after earning an MBA in strategy and marketing from the University of Southern California and a B.Sc. from the University of Southampton in England.

DesignworksUSA is a strategic design consultancy and member of the BMW Group, based in Newbury Park, California. DesignworksUSA was founded in 1972 by internationally acclaimed designer Charles Pelly and acquired by the German automaker BMW in 1995. The company specializes in the areas of automotive, transport and industrial design, and advanced communications.