John Buckingham has extensive experience in the automotive industry, particularly in the field of exterior design. He was in charge of the 2017 BMW 8 Series Concept and played a role in the final development of the Faraday Future FF91.
Kia has been recruiting talent from BMW in the past. Past recruits have included Bavarian employees such as BMW M chief engineer Albert Biermann and designers Jochen Paesen, Won Kyu Kang, and Karim Habib.
Kia's Vice President, Teck Koun Kim, who was previously the lead designer at Mercedes-Benz, will oversee Buckingham and the Kia Next Design Group.
Kia's upcoming models will be heading in the electrified direction, and Buckingham's experience as a designer in the EV realm will be valuable in shaping the design of these vehicles.
“It is with great honor and excitement that I join the Kia Next Design Exterior Group. I look forward to working with the hugely talented design team to help further define the brand’s Opposites United progressive design philosophy and apply this approach to the next generation of Kia vehicle exteriors. Together, we will build on the hugely impressive current products and work towards the next generation of design expression,” said John Buckingham.
Source: Kia
