Gilles Vidal will become the design chief for the Renault brand starting in November 2020.
He will report to Lars van den Acker, head of design for the Renault Group, which also includes Dacia, Alpine, Renault-Samsung and Lada.
Gilles Vidal
Since being appointed as the Peugeot’s brand chief designer in 2010, Vidal has helped to craft a sportier and more modern image for the marque.
Highlights include the 2013 Peugeot 308, the second-generation 508 launched in 2018, and the 3008 revealed in 2016.
Vidal’s tenure also saw the introduction of the iCockpit interior design theme, which blends aircraft inspiration with the company’s latest infotainment systems.
Peugeot 508 and 3008
After graduating from the Art Centre College of Design in Vevey, Switzerland, Vidal joined Citroen in 1996.
He ascended through the ranks, working on both interior and exterior design, and managing the development of the first-generation Citroen C4 and C4 Picasso.
Renault and Peugeot used to have a gentleman’s agreement which prevented the two French automakers from directly hiring executives and other key personnel from each other, but this has steadily eroded during the last decade.
Carlos Tavares, the PSA Group’s CEO since 2014, was Renault’s chief operating officer between 2011 and 2013.
Peugeot 2008 interior
The PSA Group has appointed Matthias Hossann to replace Vidal as the head of design for the Peugeot brand.
Hossann has been working at PSA since 2002, and his credits include the e-Legend coupe concept.
He also worked on the preliminary design stages for the latest 208 hatch and 2008 crossover, and was most recently the head of concept car development at Peugeot.
