Bentley appoints ex‑Porsche mastermind as new CEO amid electric shift

Bentley needed just over two months to find a new CEO. Frank-Steffen Walliser, who once created the Porsche 918 Spyder, has held increasingly higher positions within the German manufacturer's hierarchy. Now, he will take on the challenge in the British Isles.

In March 2024, surprising news broke about Bentley's separation from its current CEO, Adrian Hallmark. His just over six-year term, which in retrospect was quite successful, ended with a transfer to Aston Martin, where Hallmark will take the helm by October 2024.

Of course, Bentley had to begin searching for a new leader who could steer the company through a critical period. The first electric debuts are on the horizon, although work has experienced slight delays. Simultaneously, the British heavily invest in e-fuels, mainly focusing on biomass.

The brand's leadership decided that Frank-Steffen Walliser would be the best replacement for Hallmark. He will officially become the President and CEO of Bentley on July 1, 2024. To say he is not a random pick would be an understatement—Walliser has undoubtedly earned such a position.

Walliser was associated with Porsche for nearly 30 years. In 2010, he led the project team that created the much-loved 918 Spyder model. In 2014, he became the head of the motorsport division, then managed the 911 and 718 lines in 2019, and finally took charge of the entire vehicle development department in 2022.