Phil Zak
executive design director, global exterior Chevrolet
General Motors

Phil Zak is Executive Design Director for Global Exterior Design across Chevrolet, GMC and Buick brands at General Motors. In this role, he oversees exterior design execution across the three brands’ global studios, reinforces brand consistency across their portfolios and helps shape new vehicle concepts, vehicle content strategies and future design philosophies.

Zak’s recent work includes Executive Design Director of Chevrolet where he led the overall Exterior and Interior design direction across the entire Chevrolet portfolio of vehicles which includes the recently released Silverado LD truck, the 2025 Corvette ZR1/ZR1-X , the 2024 Traverse, Equinox EV along with Silverado EV and the Blazer EV.R NASCAR prototype.

He has also guided the design teams behind the Corvette CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo concepts, which explore future directions for Corvette design beyond the constraints of production vehicles.  The 2021 GMC, Hummer EV, Truck and SUV was another project that Zak led as GM’s initial entry into the electric truck market.

Zak has additionally held previous leadership positions in GM North America, outside of GM, as well as global assignments which include Executive Design Director of GM-PATAC, the GM joint venture in Shanghai China and as Exterior Design Director in Europe. Additional experience in North America includes Director of Design for Cadillac, Chevrolet, and the GM Accessories Studio.

Previously, Zak also served as chief designer of the Hyundai Design Center in Irvine, California, where he was responsible for new vehicles and concept design.

He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in industrial design & transportation design from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1988. He continued his education with a master's degree in business administration and management from Stanford University in 2024.