Ian Cameron, a retired automotive designer who is best known for his designs at BMW and Rolls-Royce, was stabbed to death at his home at Lake Ammersee in Germany late last week.
Authorities believe the perpetrator rang the doorbell and attacked Cameron when he opened the door. Cameron’s wife escaped to neighbors to call authorities, who subsequently found her husband stabbed to death. They later discovered the closed-circuit TV cameras by the garage were maliciously disabled, giving suspicion that the couple were targeted due to the automobiles they owned.
Though investigators initially had little to go on with the suspect, neighbors have helped provide a description and, prior to the murder, surveillance cameras at a local market captured images of the assailant with greenish gloves and a red rucksack. The latter was discovered in the area by drones, with investigators currently analyzing it for evidence.
Cameron retired in 2013 after a stint at Rolls-Royce starting in 1999. “Ian played a significant role in shaping Rolls-Royce from when it was first acquired by BMW Group and moved to its home at Goodwood, West Sussex,” says Rolls-Royce in an official statement. “During Ian’s tenure he led the design team for all Phantom family and Ghost models, creating thoroughly contemporary motor cars that remained sympathetic to the marque’s design heritage. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this very difficult time.”
Before Rolls-Royce, Cameron worked for Pininfarina and Iveco before migrating to BMW in 1992. There, he worked on the E46 3-Series and Z8 projects, among others, when BMW bought Rolls-Royce and he was chosen to lead the team that handled Rolls-Royce’s modern coming-out with the Phantom VII.
Source: www.classiccars.com