Wolfgang Dürheimer, 55, General Representative of the Volkswagen Group responsible for motorsport, is the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bentley Motors on June 1. He is to succeed Wolfgang Schreiber, 56, who will take a “leading position” within the Volkswagen Group.
Under Schreiber, Bentley set new records for deliveries, sales and profit last year as Bentley delivered 10,120 vehicles, 19% more than in 2012. Sales grew by 15.5% to €1.68 billion. Profit rose by 66.9% to €167.7 million. In the first quarter of 2014, Bentley increased deliveries by a further 17%.
Wolfgang Dürheimer has a degree in engineering and started his career in 1986 with BMW, where he held various management positions until 1998. In 1999, he joined Porsche AG, where he became Board Member for research and development in 2001. New models and series were created under his leadership including trucks and 4-door sedans. In 2011, he was appointed CEO of Bentley Motors and Bugatti. In September 2012, he became a Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, where he was responsible for technical development. After stepping down from Audi, he will be appointed to the Volkswagen Group committees responsible for the USA and China markets in addition to heading the Bentley and Bugatti brands.
Wolfgang Schreiber has a degree in engineering. He joined the Volkswagen Group in 1984. From 1996 to 2003, he was head of transmission development of the Volkswagen brand. Products created under him include the DSG transmission. In 2003, he transferred to Bugatti, where he was head of development until 2011. In September 2006, he was also appointed Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles responsible for development. He was Speaker of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles from 2010. Since September 2012, he has successfully managed Bentley Motors as Chairman and CEO and Bugatti as President.
