Rolls-Royce hires former Veyron designer

Jozef Kaban has Bugatti’s hypercar and two years of BMW design leadership under his belt

Rolls-Royce has pinched automotive designer Jozef Kaban from its parent BMW to be the new head of design in Goodwood. Czech-born Kaban has been at BMW since 2017 with the same job title – meaning he’s played a pivotal role in the introduction of those larger (and highly controversial) front grilles – but is best known for being the man behind the first Bugatti Veyron design, at a time when he was just 25 years old. 

Of course, the Royal College of Art graduate has gone on to do much more than pen the original Bugatti hypercar, having worked in leading roles at Audi and Skoda, and is considered a pivotal figure in the premium look of both brands. But now, 46-year-old Kaban arguably faces his greatest challenge yet: to lead Rolls’ design department as the brand enters a new era, one where demand for electrification could force it to alter its take on tradition for the first time in, well… forever.

“Jozef Kaban is an exceptionally talented designer with a strong track record and a wide breadth of ability,” said his new boss, Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Otvös, during the announcement of his arrival. “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. This is an exciting time for our brand and I look forward to welcoming Jozef to the Rolls-Royce family.”

On the subject of future design, Müller-Otvös has previously hinted that Rolls will go fully electric in the near future, skipping hybrid power in the process. Could this mean that Kaban – who we know is no stranger to large grilles (the Veyron was also well endowed in this department) – will be the man to shrink the enormous ‘Pantheon’-dominated face of Rollses? Now wouldn’t that be ironic…

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