Microsoft Gaming Leadership Shake-Up: Phil Spencer Retires, Asha Sharma Named New Xbox CEO 
Trump Orders Federal Agencies to Halt Use of Anthropic AI Technology 
Samsung and SK Hynix Shares Hit Record Highs as Nvidia Earnings Boost AI Chip Demand 
Amazon’s $50B OpenAI Investment Tied to AGI Milestone and IPO Plans 
Nvidia Earnings Beat Expectations as AI Demand Surges, Stock Rises on Strong Revenue Outlook 
OpenAI Hires Former Meta and Apple AI Leader Ruomin Pang Amid Intensifying AI Talent War 
Snowflake Forecasts Strong Fiscal 2027 Revenue Growth as Enterprise AI Demand Surges 
FedEx Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Tariff Refunds After Supreme Court Ruling 
Middle East Airspace Shutdown Disrupts Global Flights After U.S.-Israel Strikes on Iran 
Boeing Secures $166.8 Million U.S. Navy Contract for P-8A Engineering and Software Support 
Lynas Rare Earths Shares Surge on Strong Half-Year Earnings and Rising Global Demand 
Meta Encryption Plan Sparks Child Safety Concerns Amid New Mexico Lawsuit 
Nvidia Earnings Preview: AI Growth Outlook Remains Strong Beyond 2026 
APEX Tech Acquisition Inc. Raises $111.97 Million in NYSE IPO Under Ticker TRADU 
Federal Judge Blocks Virginia Social Media Age Verification Law Over First Amendment Concerns 
Panama Investigates CK Hutchison’s Port Unit After Court Voids Canal Contracts 
OpenAI Targets $600B Compute Spend as IPO Valuation Could Reach $1 Trillion 
Kia Motors appointed former Mercedes-Benz and BMW chief designers to head its design centers in Europe and China. The South Korean automobile manufacturer announced that Oliver Samson had been hired as the senior chief designer of its Europe center. At the same time, Lim Seung Mo will lead its China design center.
As per Electrek, Kia Motors announced the appointment on Tuesday, March 26. Samson and Lim’s appointments take effect on April 1.
New Designers for EV Transition
In any case, one of Kia Motors’ goals for bringing the former designers of Mercedes-Benz and BMW to its organization is for them to help with automotive designs, improve technology, and ultimately bolster sales. Samson and Lim are also expected to apply their expertise and knowledge as the company moves towards its push for an EV shift.
With the extensive experience acquired through their leadership at the most prominent global vehicle brands, Kia Motors believes Samson and Lim will play a role in strengthening its brand’s design team as it gradually transitions to electric vehicles.
The newly appointed designers will lead their respective design teams to create the next generation of auto designs for Kia vehicles. Their work will include designs, materials, concepts, and EV models. Furthermore, their tasks and projects will support the company’s main design hub in South Korea, where designs are processed from plans to conceptualizations.
About Oliver Samson and Lim Seung Mo
The Korea Herald reported that Lim Seung Mo will head the Kia Design Center in China. He started his career in the auto industry by joining the BMW Group in 2010. He was the team leader for the exterior design of the company’s BMW i4 and Series 4 models. Later, he moved to Didi Chuxing Technology and Geely Motors for new leadership roles related to design innovation in EVs.
Oliver Samson will lead Kia’s Europe Design Center. Before this, his work experience included a designer role at Hyundai and Kia European Design Center in 2003. He also held executive job posts at Changan Automobile, Nio, and Germany’s Mercedes-Benz.
“I am incredibly excited to welcome Seungmo and Oliver to their new leadership positions within the Kia Design team,” Kia Global Design’s executive vice president, Karim Habib, said of the appointments via press release. “By uniting a diverse team of talented individuals with unique perspectives, we can truly embody the philosophy behind Opposites United, better allowing us to deliver truly inspirational and impactful design.”
Photo by: Hyundai Motor Group/Unsplash
