Bentley picks former JLR strategy boss Adrian Hallmark as next CEO

BERLIN: British luxury carmaker Bentley Motors has hired Adrian Hallmark, former head of strategy at British rival Jaguar Land Rover to become its new chief executive, it said.

Hallmark, who served at Bentley before as sales chief and also held management positions in the past at parent Volkswagen and Porsche, will become CEO in February, replacing Wolfgang Duerheimer, the carmaker said on Friday.

Duerheimer, a former top manager at VW's Audi and Porsche brands, will retire from Bentley but continue to advise VW on motorsport matters.

His departure marks a wider reshuffle at the Crewe, England-based ultra-luxury division with four changes in senior positions, including Porsche manager Werner Tietz replacing Rolf Frech as Bentley engineering chief.

Duerheimer will also resign from his position as president of Bugatti and in January be replaced by Stephan Winkelmann, a former CEO of Lamborghini and currently head of Audi's motorsport division, Bugatti said in a separate statement.