Mazda Europe recently appointed the British Kevin Rice as the new design director in September, replacing outgoing former director Peter Birtwhistle.

Birtwhistle joined Mazda Motor Corp in 1988, by the middle of 1999 in the leadership Mazda European design department. He has Mazda KODO classic soul aerodynamic design language has a great contribution. Mazda Europe President CEO Jeff Guyton said, "Mazda has a long history of traditional European, Japanese car brand is considered to be the most European of characteristics, which are Peter design with passion for cars inseparable."
The new director, the 50 year old Kevin Rice had previously worked at BMW and other carmakers, autumn in 2013 as Mazda European R & D center creative director.