Holden Designer Joins Korean Team

[Darren]

Holden designer Max Wolff has accepted a position with GM Daewoo in South Korea. Wolff will support GM Executive Director Asia-Pacific Design, Michael Simcoe, in Seoul.

Simcoe today said the appointment underlined Holden's strategic responsibility as a design centre of expertise and reinforced General Motors' focus on generating locally conceived vehicles for the Asia-Pacific region.

Wolff, 32, joined Holden Design in 1998. His design involvement has included -

• Exteriors for the current model VY Commodore range;
  
• SSX, an all-wheel-drive crossover sports hatch revealed at the 2002 Sydney International Motor Show. SSX was a flexible four-seater with Gen III V8 engine performance and versatile load area;
  
• HRT427, a closed-circuit racer featuring a 7-litre V8 racing engine based on the Le Mans-winning C5R Corvette powertrain. HRT427 was also shown at the 2002 Sydney show; and
  
• Elfin Clubman MS8 track racer, a two-seater open-wheeler track machine built with the Elfin Sports Car Company. The Clubman and Elfin Streamliner Le Mans style roadster were shown at the 2004 Melbourne Motor Show.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to expand Holden's design contributions into other markets. I am excited to be involved with the future of GM Daewoo and looking forward to enhancing the brand in its home market as well as overseas," Wolff said.

Wolff's appointment strengthens the links between Holden and GM Daewoo. In October 2002, Holden announced it would become a strategic partner in General Motors Daewoo Auto & Technology Company (GM Daewoo), the global company created to acquire key assets from Daewoo Motor Company.

Simcoe was promoted in July 2003 from his position as Holden Design Director to GM Executive Director Asia-Pacific Design. Simcoe joined Holden in 1981 and was appointed Design Director at Holden in 2001.

The full press release can be found here