Auto Design

The latest director of design for the Alfa Romeo brand, Christopher Reitz, has resigned recently and has already left his office in Turin. However his resignation has not been made official and even his own designers were not aware of the decision. His absence was said to be temporary and due to family “health” concern. Indeed, my well-placed source has confirmed he has resigned over frustration. For months designers at Alfa Romeo have been left with nothing to do by Marchionne’s decision to put every plans for new products on hold.

Reportedly the Alfa Romeo designers have not been given even the chance to practice their skill on a celebrative show-car for the Geneva Motor Show. Most likely they will have to wait until the end of April to learn about their future, when Sergio Marchionne (Sua Maestà, His Majesty, as he is referred to within Fiat) will unveil the new business plan for the entire Fiat Group Automobiles.

Mr. Reitz first joined Fiat in January 2005, from the London based Nissan Design Europe, as head of advanced design for the Fiat’s brands and in April 2008 he replaced Frank Stephenson at Alfa Romeo top design job. After graduating from the Art Center Europe College in Vevey, Switzerland; Reitz joined the Volkswagen Design Centre in Wolfsburg for three years. In 1996 he moved to Ingolstadt at Audi design.