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피터 슈라이어가 본 “회장님 정몽구”는 가히 선지자적 인물이다.
그는 최근 독일 언론과의 인터뷰에서 “정몽구회장은 비전이 있었다. 그 비전은 어떻게 하면 한국 자동차 시장을 성장 시키느냐이다,”며 정회장을 애플의 스티브 잡스, 기타리스트 지미 헨드릭스, 작곡가 마일스 데이비스 등의 입지전적인 인물들과 같은 반열에 올려놓았다.
또 그는 한번도 “한국으로의 이직”을 후회해본 적이 없으며, 이제 디자이너로서 남은 목표가 있다면, 현대기아차를 봤을 때 누구나 “아!”하며 느낄 수 있는 독특한 “아이덴티티,” 즉 정체성을 만드는데 있다고 밝혔다.
현대기아차의 첫 외국인 사장인 슈라이어 디자인총괄은 최근 독일 3at 방송에 출연해 지난 7년간 한국에서 보낸 시간, 현대기아차, 그리고 정회장에 대한 소회를 허심탄회하게 이야기했다.
올해 예순인 그는 독일 출신으로 아우디와 폭스바겐의 수석디자이너로 일했고 2006년 기아에 전격 스카우트 됐다. 그는 BMW의 전 디자인총괄 크리스 뱅글, 재규어의 이안 칼럼과 함께 세계3대 자동차 디자이너로 통한다.
이후 기아 K 시리즈의 성공을 이끈 슈라이어는 올해 초 정회장의 지시로 현대와 기아차의 디자인 총괄 사장으로 임명됐다.
슈라이어 사장은 현대 기아차와 함께 한국 자동차 역사를 써왔으며, 한국이, 그리고 정회장이 자신의 능력과 가치를 인정해준 것에 대해 깊은 감사의 마음을 표했다.
이와 함께 앞으로 중국, 미국 유럽을 포함한 세계 시장을 제패하겠다는 야심 찬 포부를 밝혔다.
“기아차가 눈송이라면, 현대차는 물방울이다, 그리고 기아가 건축물이라면, 현대는 물과 같이 흐른다,”고 표현하며, 슈라이어 사장은 본인이 합류하기 전, 기아는 아무런 정체성이 없었다고 꼬집었다.
하지만 이제는 본인이 예전에 디자인했던 폭스바겐과 아우디 등이 이젠 현대기아의 경쟁상대가 되었다며 지난날을 회상하기도 했다.
한국에서 되도록 많은 시간을 보내려 한다는 슈라이어 사장은 젊은 직원들과 어울리는 시간도 종종 마련한다고 밝혔다.
한국, 그리고 현대기아차의 경직된 직장문화에서는 직속상관이 아니면 어울리기 어렵고, 또 워낙 윗사람을 어려워해 본인도 어려워하지만, 어울리면서 관계를 다져 나가려 한다고 밝혔다.
디자인 영감은 주로 음악과 비행기 등에서 얻는다며 직접 재즈 기타를 연주하기도 하며, 청담동의 단골 째즈클럽을 수시로 찾는다고 했다.
슈라이어 사장이 말하는 본인의 디자인 철학은 실용성에 미를 입히는데 있다고 밝혔다.
그가 마지막으로 한국디자이너들에게 남긴 메시지는, 모험을 하라는 것이었다. 모험 없이는 아무것도 이룰 수 없기 때문이다.
(jemmie@heraldcorp.com)
<관련 영문 기사>
‘I never regretted joining Hyundai’
“Hyundai Kia chairman Chung Mong-koo had a vision: how to raise the level of Korean car companies,” said Peter Schreyer, Hyundai and Kia’s chief design executive, comparing one of Korea’s top business tycoons with visionary CEOs and artists such as Steve Jobs, Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis.
Chung Mong-koo is the chairman of Hyundai Motor Group which encompasses the Kia brand.
In a rare interview, Schreyer spoke about his life at Hyundai and in Korea in a documentary aired recently by 3sat Mediathek, one of Germany’s top broadcasting stations.
Saying he has never once regretted leaving Germany to work for Hyundai Motor Group and Kia Motor, Schreyer expressed his deep gratitude toward the Korean carmaker for recognizing his talent and giving him a chance to add value.
The 60-year-old designer said his remaining designing goal is to clothe Hyundai and Kia cars in a brand and identity that distinguishes it from all others.
“In the past, Kia really had no identity. There was nothing conspicuous about the brand,” Schreyer said.
The documentary said the designer played a significant role in reversing the situation, calling him a “superstar” at Kia.
Schreyer was recruited by Kia in 2007, and has led the success of the K Series, one of the carmaker’s most successful lineups.
Noting that Hyundai and Kia, despite being under the same roof for decades, still have opposing brand identities, he compared Kia to snowflakes and Hyundai to water.
“Kia is like a piece of construction, while Hyundai flows,” he said.
Schreyer also said he tries to spend as much time as possible in Seoul.
The top designer said felt he needed to make the effort to meet more people within Hyundai and Kia, especially because due to the hierarchical workplace culture, young employees found it difficult to approach seniors if they are not their direct superiors.
Having a glass of wine and talking with them whenever he could was his way of reaching out, Schreyer said.
He added that the world was now ready for Hyundai, saying that even premium brands such as Volkswagen were now all rivals, along with those in the U.S., Japan and even Europe.
To fellow and younger designers, Schreyer’s message was to never be afraid to take on challenges, because otherwise, it’s impossible to achieve anything.
Last but not least, he spoke of the vast and rapid success the country has achieved over the years, adding that he had stood witness to further development during the past seven years he has spent in Korea.
By Kim Ji-hyun
(jemmie@heraldcorp.com)
‘I never regretted joining Hyundai’
“Hyundai Kia chairman Chung Mong-koo had a vision: how to raise the level of Korean car companies,” said Peter Schreyer, Hyundai and Kia’s chief design executive, comparing one of Korea’s top business tycoons with visionary CEOs and artists such as Steve Jobs, Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis.
Chung Mong-koo is the chairman of Hyundai Motor Group which encompasses the Kia brand.
In a rare interview, Schreyer spoke about his life at Hyundai and in Korea in a documentary aired recently by 3sat Mediathek, one of Germany’s top broadcasting stations.
Saying he has never once regretted leaving Germany to work for Hyundai Motor Group and Kia Motor, Schreyer expressed his deep gratitude toward the Korean carmaker for recognizing his talent and giving him a chance to add value.
The 60-year-old designer said his remaining designing goal is to clothe Hyundai and Kia cars in a brand and identity that distinguishes it from all others.
“In the past, Kia really had no identity. There was nothing conspicuous about the brand,” Schreyer said.
The documentary said the designer played a significant role in reversing the situation, calling him a “superstar” at Kia.
Schreyer was recruited by Kia in 2007, and has led the success of the K Series, one of the carmaker’s most successful lineups.
Noting that Hyundai and Kia, despite being under the same roof for decades, still have opposing brand identities, he compared Kia to snowflakes and Hyundai to water.
“Kia is like a piece of construction, while Hyundai flows,” he said.
Schreyer also said he tries to spend as much time as possible in Seoul.
The top designer said felt he needed to make the effort to meet more people within Hyundai and Kia, especially because due to the hierarchical workplace culture, young employees found it difficult to approach seniors if they are not their direct superiors.
Having a glass of wine and talking with them whenever he could was his way of reaching out, Schreyer said.
He added that the world was now ready for Hyundai, saying that even premium brands such as Volkswagen were now all rivals, along with those in the U.S., Japan and even Europe.
To fellow and younger designers, Schreyer’s message was to never be afraid to take on challenges, because otherwise, it’s impossible to achieve anything.
Last but not least, he spoke of the vast and rapid success the country has achieved over the years, adding that he had stood witness to further development during the past seven years he has spent in Korea.
By Kim Ji-hyun
(jemmie@heraldcorp.com)
