José Navarro appointed Italdesign Head of Design

Moncalieri, March 16, 2026

Effective March 16, 2026, José Navarro will take on responsibility for Italdesign‘s Design Business Unit, coordinating all creative activities across the company’s automotive, transportation and product design areas.

José Navarro graduated in Industrial and Product Design from the Universitat Politècnica de València and joined Italdesign in 1996. Over nearly three decades with the company, he has held roles of increasing responsibility, contributing to several key projects developed at the Moncalieri headquarters alongside Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro.

During his tenure, he also supported activities connected to Italdesign California, the U.S. subsidiary established to strengthen relationships with major manufacturers’ design and engineering research centers in the region.

He later served as Head of the Design function for Italdesign Barcelona and Italdesign China, and also gained significant experience as General Manager of Italdesign China.

Throughout his career, José Navarro has developed a deep understanding of Italdesign’s history, culture and international dimensions. His professional path mirrors the company’s own evolution, one driven by global growth, innovation and a forward-looking design vision.

“José Navarro represents the best example of internal growth within Italdesign,” said Antonio Casu, CEO of Italdesign. “Over the years he has developed a deep understanding of our creative DNA and contributed to strengthening our presence in key international markets. His experience, global mindset and strong design culture make him the right person to lead our creative direction with expertise, passion and a clear strategic focus.”

José Navarro succeeds Joaquin Garcia Sanchis, who is leaving the company after playing a key role in the evolution of Italdesign’s design philosophy.

“Joaquin has profoundly influenced our creative approach, bringing a sustainable and digitally conscious perspective to design,” Casu added. “We thank him for his contribution and wish him every success in his future professional endeavors. José Navarro’s background will ensure managerial continuity and effective support for the strategic evolution of our Design area.”