Executives
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A major reshuffle of senior executives at the Volkswagen Group has seen Wolfgang Dürheimer, the former Porsche exec who’s been in charge of the prestigious Bentley and Bugatti brands for a little more than a year, move to Ingolstadt, Germany, to head up Audi’s research and development department. Dürheimer is the man credited with the success of the Porsche Cayenne and he was previously tasked with creating that same magic for Bentley and its upcoming SUV. While it’s unclear what projects he will be spearheading over at Audi, his appointment is expected to help...
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BMW Appoints Karim Habib As New Design BossBMW has promoted its current chief of exterior design, Karim Habib, to the new role of head of design for the BMW brand. Habib, the 42-year-old Lebanon-born Canadian, will report to Adrian van Hooydonk, the head of design for the entire BMW group. Habib was responsible for the design of several...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford Performance Vehicle Chief Jost Capito To Head VW Motorsport
Ford’s Global Performance Vehicles chief and the man largely responsible for developing the all-out-insane Focus RS, Jost Capito, has left the Blue Oval to head up Volkswagen’s burgeoning motorsports division. He starts his new role on May 1, 2012, and takes over from Kris Nissen who...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ex-BMW Designer Chris Chapman To Head Hyundai’s U.S. Design Team
Hyundai has confirmed that American designer Christopher Chapman will head the company’s design center located in Irvine, California. The California native’s primary role will be for new vehicle and concept design for Hyundai, where he will work under SukGeun Oh, the automaker’s...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Talk Of Ferrari Chief Montezemolo Running For Italian Presidency Heats Up
Ferrari’s charismatic head Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has made no secret of his desire to see major economic and structural reforms in his native Italy, first alluding to his political desires back in February when he told the press that he’d like to be reborn as a politician. Now the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
BMW USA Chief Jim O'Donnell To Be Replaced By Ludwig Willisch
BMW of North America's current CEO Jim O'Donnell will retire this fall, with German executive and former head of sales in Europe and Japan Ludwig Willisch taking his place. The surprise move comes after strong June sales saw BMW outsell Mercedes-Benz and extend its lead as the top-selling luxury...
Nelson Ireson -
It’s been a sad week in automotive world, with two of its legends, from very different fields, have passed away. Charles M. “Chuck” Jordan, one of GM’s most influential designers, died late on Thursday at the age of 83. Tom Walkinshaw, the founder of the TWR motorsports and engineering group, also died, passing away today at the age of 64 after a long battle with cancer. Chuck Jordan was the fourth man elected to the position of vice president of the General Motors Design, taking up the job in 1986 and holding it until retirement just six years later. He originally...
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Aston Martin Hires Former Tesla Exec To Help Boost Global Sales
The next couple of years are very important for Aston Martin as the company continues to execute an ambitious model roll-out during one of the worst periods in the entire history of the automotive industry.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ex-Pininfarina Designer Takes Head Job At Stile Bertone
Italy's place in the automotive design business is legendary, inspiring passion for cars in generations of people all around the world via cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia and Alfa Romeo and more. Both Pininfarina and Bertone have spent time at the leading edge of design, and Jason Castriota...
Ralph Hanson
