�@Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), a global manufacturer of transportation and aerospace-related products and the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced a series of changes in the management of Subaru Design Department, effective April 1. These changes will strengthen its global design capability and further improve Subaru brand value.

�@Mr. Kiyoshi Sugimoto is appointed Vice President, Senior General Manager of Product & Portfolio Planning Division and General Manager of Subaru Design Department. He will supervises all of design activities for the Subaru brand. Mr. Andreas Zapatinas of the former Director of "CENTRO STILE", the design center of Alfa Romeo in Italy, is appointed Chief Designer of Advanced Design.
Under their leadership, Subaru Design will work to create an innovative and individual identity and Subaru's global brand value. To this end, Subaru Design will conduct aggressive development with great urgency under the leadership of Mr. Sugimoto, while utilizing Mr. Zapatinas' international experience.

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General manager of Subaru Design Department: Mr. Kiyoshi Sugimoto

�@Mr. Sugimoto was responsible for the first generation "Legacy" design, and has demonstrated his expertise as the leader of the Subaru Design Department ever since. As an officer of Tug International Co., Ltd., a design subsidiary of FHI, he also had rich experience in a variety of design businesses besides automobile industry. Further as he has broad network in the international design community, he will greatly contribute to establishing a globally appearing Subaru Design.

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Chief designer of Advanced design: Mr. Andreas Zapatinas

�@Mr. Zapatinas was born in Athens, Greece. After studying design in California, he worked at Pininfarina, FIAT, and BMW design studios, and since December 1998, was Director Alfa Romeo, Centro Stile.
He has been responsible for a wide variety car design projects. Among these was Alfa Romeo the 147 which gained recognition as the 2001 Car of The Year in Europe and the 2001-2002 Import Car of The Year in Japan.