McLaren Automotive has announced the signing of former Ford Mustang designer Kemal Curic as its new chief design officer.
The U.K. automaker based in Woking, south of London, said in an April 13 release that Curic will join its Executive Leadership Team and will be responsible for shaping the design vision and creative direction of the brand’s portfolio.
Curic brings more than two decades of global automotive design experience, with a career spanning performance and luxury vehicles.
He joins from the Ford Motor Company, where he was global design director for Performance Vehicles.
In his Ford biography, he is described as a native of Sarajevo who grew up in Germany and Croatia and “has been fascinated by American Muscle Cars and vehicle design since he was a young child.”
He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Industrial Design and a master's degree in Transportation Design before joining Ford of Europe in 2003. He designed cars focused on the European market such as the Fiesta, Mondeo and Kuga before moving to Dearborn, Mich., to work on the 2015 Mustang.
In 2013, Curic became exterior design manager for Lincoln Continental, then served as chief designer for the all-new Aviator and Corsair.
Six years later he became head of design for Lincoln, resulting in the creation of several award-winning models which achieved high-volume sales. These included the China-market Zephyr, and the Nautilus SUV. Additionally, he oversaw the development of the latest Navigator, which featured award-winning interiors and experiences.
These skills will be exploited at McLaren as he will take the lead in all design functions, including interiors, exteriors, digital design and colors, materials and finish, the automaker said.
“McLaren is one of the most respected and aspirational brands in the world,” Curic said. “I’m excited to be part of their journey to help shape the design vision of a company so deeply rooted in engineering excellence and racing heritage.”
