Through an official press release, Harley–Davidson confirms that starting April 30 Willie G.
Davidson will leave his job of 49 years as Chief Styling Officer for the Milwaukee-based manufacturer to become an ‘ambassador’ for the brand.
Given the history and cult-status of the character, this somewhat surprising news is bound to become a milestone in the history of the legendary American maker.
Grandson to William A.
Davidson (one of the founder of the company) and son to William H.
Davidson (who had been the second ever H-D president), Willie G.
has always been recognized as one of the key figures in the history of the ‘bar-and-shield’ brand: involved in the styling of all these iconic bikes since 1963, in 1981 he basically saved the brand from bankruptcy when – along with 13 other executives – he bought it back from the AMF Group, then leading it to the worldwide success that H-D still enjoys today.
“Throughout my life, I have been truly fortunate to have the opportunity to marry my passion for design with my love for this amazing brand that runs so deeply in my veins – commented the 78 years old Willie G.
– What’s most rewarding has been to see the impact our motorcycles have on the lives of our customers.
Everything we do in styling is based on the notion that form follows function, but both report to emotion.
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