Kia has appointed automotive industry designer Peter Schreyer, the man behind the new Beetle and the Audi TT, to the newly created position of chief design officer.

Schreyer takes up his new role on September 1 and will oversee Kia’s domestic and international design functions.

Euisun Chung, president and CEO of Kia, said: “Schreyer's track record over many years in the automotive sector speaks for itself and we are looking forward to working with him to lay out a long-term strategy that will centre on moulding a unique and consistent design lineage for the entire future Kia line-up.”

Schreyer will oversee the design activities of the company’s regional design centres in Frankfurt, Los Angeles and Tokyo as well as the company’s flagship Namyang Design Center in Korea.