The latest development at the venerable automaker highlights an era of change at the Crewe factory. It follows a new flagship vehicle, the Mulsanne, which precedes a new high-performance Continental GT, which follows the company's new commitment energy conserving-engines and technology.
Since 1986, Wolfgang Dürheimer's career encompasses approximately 13 years in executive roles at BMW, including product manager and head product development in the motorcycle division. He shifted from BMW to Porsche in 1999 and served as a board member for the automaker since 2001. Mr. Dürheimer, a native of Bavaria, in Germany, is married and has two adult children.
"I am flattered by the trust put in me by the Volkswagen Group," said Mr. Dürheimer, in regard to his new role. "To take charge of a company such as Bentley is a significant responsibility. The company has such an illustrious history and the developments made over the past few years have been outstanding. I know I have a lot to learn about the brand and the people but hope my experience with Porsche will serve me well in a new role and a new country."
"It has been a privilege to have been a small part of the story of Bentley", said Dr. Paefgen, reflecting on his role. "During my time here we have had some tremendous successes and inevitably faced some real challenges. However, it is the skill, the commitment and the passion of everyone at Crewe that I will treasure the most. In Wolfgang Dürheimer, I am convinced we have an individual with a feel for both the brand and what makes Bentleys special. The company is in very capable hands."
Source: Bentley Motors