Hallmark to replace Durheimer as Bentley boss

Khodrocar - Jaguar Land Rover’s global strategy director Adrian Hallmark has been appointed chairman and CEO of Bentley, replacing Wolfgang Dürheimer.

Dürheimer, 59, is retiring after his second stint in charge of the British firm, one of three roles he has held within the Volkswagen Group. Dürheimer will retain a role advising the VW Group on its motorsport projects.

Hallmark, 55, was previously Bentley’s board member for sales, marketing and PR before moving to JLR. He has also worked for Porsche, Volkswagen and Saab. Hallmark will start his new role on 1 February 2018. Hallmark is understood to have left JLR on Thursday 5 October.

During Dürheimer’s time at Bentley, he has pushed the growth of the brand, including the launch of the Bentayga SUV and a return to racing with the Continental GT3.

VW Group boss Matthias Müller said: "Wolfgang Dürheimer has had an outstanding career and has launched some of the most important cars the group has ever created.”

Bentley has also made three further appointments to its board. Werner Tietz moves over from Porsche to head up engineering, succeeding Rolf Frech. Chris Craft, Porsche GB’s managing director, will replace Andreas Offermann as sales and marketing chief. Astrid Fontaine, previously at Porsche North America, will head up people, digitisation and IT. Those appointments will take effect on 1 January 2018.