Bentley Boss Steps Down to Become Aston Martin’s New CEO

Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark has stepped down from his position to become the new CEO of Aston Martin.

It appears that yet another big move has taken place in the automotive industry, albeit this time around happening abroad in the UK. It appears that Bentley Motors current CEO, Adrian Hallmark, has officially stepped down from his position to be installed as the new boss of Aston Martin.

This move by Hallmark ends a six-year-long tenure by the former CEO, where he oversaw plenty of success for the Crewe-based marque, which included breaking a few sales records in the post-pandemic economic era.

According to Bentley’s official statement, Hallmark has left the company “at his own request and by mutual consent," adding that “he is preparing for new tasks outside the Volkswagen Group with immediate effect.”

Gernot Döllner, chairman of the executive board at Audi AG.

Meanwhile, Audi’s chairman of the executive board, Gernot Döllner, has thanked Hallmark for his “significant commitment” during his six-year-long term as the Bentley CEO, adding that the former boss took “important steps towards the long-term success of the company.”

Hallmark will join the Gaydon-based marque as the new boss later in Oct 2024.

Following his resignation as Bentley’s boss, the 61-year-old exec will be installed as the new CEO at Aston Martin. Hallmark’s appointment will mark the third change of CEO for the Gaydon-based marque since 2020, where he will replace ongoing boss Amedeo Felisa later in October this year.

Commenting on his new appointment as Aston Martin’s new CEO, Hallmark said, “Like many working within the ultra-luxury segment, I have admired the continued transformation of Aston Martin’s brand and products from afar and feel honoured to have the opportunity to work with Lawrence, the Board, and the Company’s employees to lead its next chapter.”

Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll

Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll said, “In Adrian Hallmark, we are attracting one of the highest calibre leaders not just in our segment, but in the entire global automotive industry. Complementing our world-class leadership, Adrian will bring to Aston Martin unrivalled experience in both the ultra-luxury and British manufacturing sectors to progress our strategy and continue recent momentum.”

With Felisa’s tenure as AM’s boss is set to end later in October this year, the automaker has thanked the former Ferrari exec for all of his contributions. Throughout his short-but-busy stint, Felisa has oversaw the launch of several new products by Aston Martin, including the new DB12 and Vantage, while the launch of the new DBS successor will be his final rodeo with the Gaydon-based marque.