Nissan Puts Electric Juke Designer in Charge of European Styling

Nissan has handed the reins of its London design operation to Takahiro Kuze, the stylist credited with shaping the upcoming electric Juke. His appointment as Design Director of Nissan Design Europe took effect on 1 October 2026, placing him in charge of the studio based in Paddington.

Kuze steps into the role vacated by Giovanny Arroba, who has departed the company to explore other opportunities. Beyond running the London facility, Kuze will also act as Nissan’s head of design representative across Africa, the Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania, reporting to Ken Lee, Senior Design Director within Nissan’s Global Design organisation.

His tenure at Nissan stretches back to 1999, spanning both production vehicles and concept work. Among the projects on his CV are the 2020 Patrol and the first-generation Magnite, along with the Hyper Punk concept. The electric Juke stands out as one of the electrified models Nissan is lining up for European customers.

Kuze signalled continuity with the studio’s track record in a statement, noting that Nissan Design Europe has long produced distinctive and innovative vehicles and that he looks forward to carrying that legacy forward. He also pointed to collaboration with the London team and colleagues across the AMIEO region and Nissan’s global design network as central to shaping the brand’s next design chapter.

First opened in 2003, the London site forms part of a worldwide design structure coordinated from Atsugi in Japan, with a particular focus on the broader region’s markets. Installing the electric Juke’s lead designer at the top of that studio effectively binds its output to the models Nissan is readying for European buyers — a signal that the company intends its regional design hub to stay tightly coupled with its electrification roadmap.