German Car Zone

Marc Girard - new Head of BMW Interior Design

• 27.03.2009
• Press Release

Munich. 38-year-old Marc Girard from France is to take up the post as head of the Interior Design department at BMW Automobiles commencing 1 April 2009.

Marc Girard has worked as a designer for the BMW Group for 15 years now. His most recent position was as team leader at Interior Design BMW Automobiles. From 2004 to 2006 he was head of Interior Design for the MINI brand and responsible, inter alia, for the interior styling of the MINI Clubman. Marc Girard names enthusiasm as the most important incentive for his creative work: “Interior design offers customers control, protection and a feeling of security. I am pleased to be able to assume this responsibility and to create this crucial interface within the development process together with the entire BMW Interior Design team.”

The designer will succeed the long-time head of Interior Design, Michael Ninic, who died suddenly last year. Since then, the then head of Design BMW Automobiles and current director of BMW Group Design, Adrian van Hooydonk, has administered this task provisionally and in addition to his other duties. “During his time with the BMW Group, Marc Girard consistently demonstrated his ability to understand and press ahead not only with his business but also BMW’s design philosophy. His many years of experience, his team spirit and his power to convince will lead the team and the work of Interior Design BMW Automobiles into a successful future,” Adrian van Hooydonk comments. The BMW brand will offer its customers an interior that features a combination of optimum ergonomics and dynamics as well as subtle details and materials. The new 7 Series and the Z4 are already proof of this.”

In March 1993, after completion of training and studies in Paris and in the USA, Marc Girard joined BMW, where during the following years he assumed responsibility, inter alia, as project manager in the lifestyle, prototypes and advanced design sectors, both for exterior and interior design. From 2000 to 2002 he developed the interior design for the BMW 1 Series, the first vehicle of the brand to enter the compact segment. Following this, Marc Girad became a member of the team of designers responsible for the development of the second-generation MINI. After being appointed head of MINI Interior Design, he devoted his time to the MINI Clubman. In 2006 he joined the BMW Interior Design team.

Marc Girard lives in Munich with his wife and two children. He regards the design process as an interplay between creative people, as a close relationship and collegiality that produces optimum results. “I am grateful for the trust that has been placed in me and for the great chance,” says Marc Girard. “My passion for the automobile and my many years of experience provide me with confidence for the forthcoming challenges.”

Thanks for the update! I think I am going to like this guy. He did pretty great things with Mini, if he is responsible for the interior of the Crossover Concept. That was absolutely gorgeous, though not BMW style obviously:




By the way, was Michael Ninic responsible for the design of the interior of the F01, F07, F10, and F12??? If he died last year, I suppose he was. He was a genious!



Yep, BMW interiors are going to be a very strong point for BMW this gen again. The new 5er and 5er GT will have the fantastic 7er style and I have very high hopes for the F12 6er!

Vive la France!

As said: Marc Girard penned BMW 1er interior, and Mk2 MINI interior.

He was also Head of interior design MINI brand, and team leader of Interior design BMW Cars - before being named Head of Interior Design BMW Cars.

Late Mr. Ninic didn't penn any of above mentioned interiors, he just oversaw the design process of those interiors.

Chief of Design BMW Group: Dutchman (Adrian van Hooydonk)
Head of Exterior Design BMW Cars: Dane (Anders Warming)
Head of Interior Design BMW Cars: Frenchman (Marc Girard)
Head of Design BMW Cars: ??? (???)

If there is one thing I hate about the mini it is the interior, though I can understand why it looks the way it does. I just hope he doesn't bring any of the cutesy things over to BMW.

Again: heads of designs do not create designs yet only oversee the design process, and the Board of Management of BMW AG is the one who decides final EXTERIOR and INTERIOR designs.

Not only that - the Board also decides which final chassis setup gets green light for production. Gents go to test drives & drive cars with various chassis setups, and then decide which one to go into production.

Pierre Leclercq?

well deserved.. Marc Girard is the right choice
I don't think so. Anders Warming would be the more reasonable choice. and maybe Nagashima (E90 3er, E34 5er) or Benoit Jacob (M1 Hommage) could take over the position of exterior chief designer.

Yep, Anders seems a natural choice. But who will then be named Head of Exterior Design instead of Warming?

Btw, Joji (Nagashima) designed numerous BMW cars, and I'm sure some executive position was already offered to him in the past. Perhaps he wasn't / isn't interested.

Thre's a chance they will call Chris Chapman to Munich - he now runs Automobile studio at DesignworksUSA. Yet I guess he was already offered some position in Munich in the past years ... Perhaps he prefers Cali job.

There is another designer with great exterior design opus & experience: Marc Michael Markefka: E92/93 3er Coupe & cabrio, and 1er E82/E88 coupe & cabrio + E87 & E81 facelift.

My choice: Anders for Head of Design Joji for Head of Exterior Design.

That would complete the list: a Frenchman, a Dutchman, a Dane, and a Japanese running BMW brand design.