• May 1, 2009

Mazda North American Operations has tapped Derek Jenkins to be its new design director. As chief of design for Volkswagen Group North America, Jenkins helped develop the Audi A2, A8 and Volkswagen Scirocco concept.

"Derek's intimate knowledge and understanding of the North American market, combined with his wealth of experience after having spent 15 successful years at VW & Audi, are going to be a tremendous asset for the Mazda Design team," said Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Product Development and Quality, MNAO, in a release. "He will help us transition our Nagare design philosophy from concept to reality."

In his new role as design director at the Irvine, CA-based U.S. sales arm of the Japanese automaker, Jenkins oversees a staff of about 25, per the company. --Karl Greenberg