Late last year, the Hyundai Motor Group persuaded Luc Donckerwolke to leave his design director post at Bentley and head up the newly created Genesis sub-brand.
Now, the Korean automaker has landed another big design fish from the folks over at Bentley. SangYup Lee is set to leave the British brand and assume the post of vice-president of styling at Hyundai in June 2016.
Lee will be oversee design strategies and directions and lead design innovations in the areas of interior and exterior design, colour and materials.
“The innovative design and surprising growth of Hyundai Motor has always made me proud as a Korean while I worked overseas. Now, I want to contribute in creating world-leading automobile designs for both Hyundai Motor and the Genesis brand,” said SangYup Lee.
Lee began his career with an internship at Pininfarina and Porsche. In 1999, he joined General Motors. He then moved to the Volkswagen Group of America as chief designer in charge of Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini.
Since the end of 2012, he has been the head of exterior and advanced design at Bentley.
“Lee has proven himself as one of the world’s best automobile designers in the global platform. His design philosophy to pursue new challenges and innovations matches the DNA of Hyundai,” said Donckerwolke.
