Mark Adams is new Vice President of Design for GM Europe

From the official Press Release:

London-born Mark Adams (45), has been appointed General Motors Europe Vice President of Design. Effective from the beginning of June, he will be responsible for the design of GM’s European brands Vauxhall, Opel and Saab, as well as certain Saturn products for the North American market.

Adams succeeds Bryan Nesbitt, who has been named Vice President of Design for GM North America.

“Creating exciting vehicles that have a distinct design language has been our key focus within GME Design and continuation on this path is critical in building strong Saab, Vauxhall and Opel brands going forward,” said Mark Adams.

In his previous function as Director Exterior Design for GM Europe, Adams has led the exterior design of several award-winning Opel, Vauxhall and Saab production vehicles.

A number of prestigious show cars outlined by him were among the most popular exhibits at shows in Geneva, Frankfurt, Paris and Detroit.

“Mark led the exterior design of many our latest production models such as the Astra GTC, Zafira, Astra TwinTop, Antara, Corsa, and the forthcoming Saab 9-3,” said Carl-Peter Forster, President of GM Europe. “He has strongly influenced the next chapter in Vauxhall, Opel and Saab’s design identity.”

About Mark Adams

Born in 1961 in London, England, Mark Adams studied both Engineering and Design and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honors in Mechanical Engineering as well as a Master of Arts Degree in Automotive Design from the Royal College of Art in London.

The Opel GTC Concept (2007)

Before joining GM as Director Exterior Design for the Opel brand in 2002, he served in a series of chief designer positions at Ford Motor Company.

About GME Design

In 2006, GME greatly expanded its design operations in a new, world-class facility in Rüsselsheim which houses more than 350 design specialists from advanced and production design, while also providing a direct link and increased synergies between advanced engineering, product planning and the brands.

Headed by Bryan Nesbitt, the new GME Design Centre has developed into a facility that provides GME’s designers with the location, atmosphere and tools they need to maximize the creative process and design of future vehicles.

“Bryan has fully integrated GM Europe’s studios into one design centre. These changes allow us to better support GM’s global business strategies. The result is a more streamlined organisation” said Ed Welburn, Vice President of GM Design.

Recent GME design concepts

Under the lead of Bryan Nesbitt and Mark Adams, several GME concepts have won prestigious design awards and strongly influenced future production cars. Here are the most recent design concept cars which anticipate styling trends, challenge the status quo with radically different approaches and point to the future:

Opel GTC Concept (2007) With its bold, expressive lines, high driving dynamics and pronounced interior flexibility, the GTC Concept reflects the new, exciting interpretation of the Opel brand trademark characteristics.

Saab Aero X (2006) The unusual two-seat sports coupé – clearly inspired by the brand’s aircraft heritage – features a glass cockpit canopy that opens to allow passengers to enter. It was named 2006 Geneva “Best of Show” by editors of the U.S. motoring magazine AutoWeek and “Concept Car of the Year” by Autocar, Britain’s longest-established car magazine.

Opel Antara GTC (2005) The Opel Antara GTC combines two seemingly conflicting designs – a sporty coupé and a powerful SUV – yet at the same time manages to transcend them both. The concept car won a “Top Cars 2006 Award”, elected by 140 German, Austrian and Swiss motor journalists as well as the “Concept of the Year 2005” Autocar award.

(Source: GM)