Stephan Winkelmann: Bugatti confirms Audi Sport boss as new president
Stephan Winkelmann has been confirmed as the new president of Bugatti.
Winkelmann, who is currently managing director at Audi Sport GmbH, will take over from Wolfgang Dürheimer at the start of January 2018, after Dürheimer announced his retirement.
"I accept Wolfgang Dürheimer’s wish to retire. I sincerely thank him for the outstanding work he has done in various positions in the Volkswagen Group over 18 years," said Matthias Müller, chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen Group. "At Bugatti he successfully completed the era of the Veyron and, with the development of the Chiron, he has opened an exciting new chapter for the brand."
Above: Winkelmann in his role as Managing Director of Audi Sport
Along with the role at Bugatti, Dürheimer served as CEO of Bentley, where he will be succeeded by current Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) global strategy director, Adrian Hallmark. A trio of ex-Porsche executives have been appointed to the board at Bentley, too.
"With Stephan Winkelmann, a proven expert in sports cars and the luxury sector is coming to Bugatti," Müller continued. “I am convinced that Stephan Winkelmann will use his many years of experience in these fields as well as his sense of dealing with an exclusive clientele and his deep understanding for brands to bring new momentum to Bugatti’s further development and to lead this special brand into a sustainable future."
During his time with the Volkswagen Group, Dürheimer oversaw the legendary Porsche Carrera GT, the first Panamera and Cayenne, two generations of 911, the Bugatti Chiron and Bentley Bentayga. The new Bentley Continental GT was also conceived under his leadership.
Winkelmann will take over from Durheimer on January 1, 2018, while Hallmark will commence at Bentley a month later.
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