The Gentleman Magazine Issue 14 | April 2019 | Page 33
ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS HAS ANNOUNCED THAT
JOZEF KABAN HAS BEEN APPOINTED HEAD OF DESIGN
His success led to a desire to continue broadening
his experience in the automotive field, leading
to Head of Exterior roles, first at Audi AG and
then Skoda Auto. At Skoda he was recognised
for revolutionising the manufacturer’s design
ethos, significantly influencing the design and
emotionality of the brand through a broad
range of models. Throughout this period of his
career he also maintained design responsibility
for small volume projects, including limited and
special editions and show cars.
Kabaň, 46, is an experienced and talented designer, having
spent the majority of his career at a senior level in automotive
design. Kabaň joins Rolls-Royce Motor Cars from the BMW
Group where he has been Head of Design Studio BMW since
2017.
Passionate about car design and art from an early age, and
with an obsession for detail, Kabaň completed his studies in
Bratislava and London, concluding with a Master of Art in Car
Design at the Royal College of Art in London. Aged just 20,
Kabaň was one of the youngest ever designers to join the VW
Group. He progressed rapidly, and in 1998 he was awarded
project lead for the Bugatti Veyron, for which he designed
the exterior. He gained global recognition for the design,
demonstrating his ability, even at this early stage in his career,
to combine the automotive world with those of luxury and art.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer,
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “I am delighted to
announce that Jozef Kabaň has been appointed
Head of Design. He is an exceptionally talented
designer with a strong track record and a wide
breadth of ability. It is testament to the success
of our business that, as the world’s leading
luxury house, we are able to attract the world’s
very best design talent.” He continued, “This is an exciting time
for our brand and I look forward to welcoming Jozef to the
Rolls-Royce family.”
Adrian van Hooydonk, Chief Designer, BMW Group,
commented, “The Rolls-Royce Design Team creates
outstanding motor cars and luxury objects. I am convinced
that Jozef Kabaň will guide this phenomenal team into a very
bright future indeed.”
Kabaň is married with a daughter and a son and will be based
at the company’s design studios in Goodwood, West Sussex
and Munich.
The Gentleman Magazine | 33