(December 2, 2010) DETROIT -- Max Wolff, Cadillac's design director for exteriors, has been hired by Ford to give the Lincoln luxury brand a new design direction, according to Automotive News.

Wolff, 38, has held the Cadillac job at General Motors since 2007.

He comes in the wake of Ford's pledge to deliver seven “new or significantly improved” vehicles to its sole luxury brand in the next four years.

He has also held other positions at General Motors including a stint in South Korea at GM Daewoo Auto & Technology. There, Wolff helped design the Chevrolet Cruze compact. He started his career at GM's Australia unit, GM Holden Ltd., in 1998.

He will report to Moray Callum, Ford's executive director of design for the Americas, the automaker said on Wednesday.

“Hiring a Lincoln design director with global experience was a given,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of global product development, in a statement. “Max Wolff brings a fresh perspective that will challenge us internally and take Lincoln to new levels of prestige.”