In a move that may surprise many in the automotive industry, Adrian Hallmark stepped down from his role as the Bentley CEO to become the new boss of Aston Martin. Hallmark’s decision comes after a successful six-year term at the wheel of Bentley. As for Aston Martin, this marks the third change of chief executive officer since 2020, amidst a transitional period for the brand.
Bentley said that Hallmark is leaving “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, thanked Hallmark for his “significant commitment” during his six-year-long term as the Bentley CEO, adding that he took “important steps towards the long-term success of the company”.
Adrian Hallmark said: “Bentley has had a great influence on me. To redefine luxury mobility for the future with such a strong brand is a task that I took on with full commitment and great pleasure. The time has now come for me to turn to new challenges. I would like to express warm thanks to the entire Bentley team for all that we have achieved together in the last few years.“
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Moments later, Aston Martin issued their own press release announcing the appointment of 61-year-old Hallmark as their new CEO. Hallmark will assume his new role no later than October 1, 2024, with outgoing CEO, Amedeo Felisa, remaining on duty to allow a smooth transition. Before stepping down, Felisa will oversee the introduction of the DBS successor later in 2024, following the recent launches of the DB12 and the new Vantage.
Following the announcement of his new role, 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 honored to have the opportunity to work with Lawrence, the Board, and the Company’s employees to lead its next chapter. The transformation of Aston Martin is one of the most exciting projects within the ultra-luxury automotive industry. I am looking forward to continuing the Company’s great momentum and utilizing my experience and passion to further unleash this iconic brand’s potential and take it to even greater success.”
Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll said: “In Adrian Hallmark, we are attracting one of the highest caliber leaders not just in our segment, but in the entire global automotive industry. Complementing our world-class leadership, Adrian will bring to Aston Martin unrivaled experience in both the ultra-luxury and British manufacturing sectors to progress our strategy and continue recent momentum.”
Stroll didn’t neglect to praise the work of ex-Ferrari exec Amedeo Felisa who took charge in Aston Martin after the departure of ex-AMG boss Tobias Moers in 2022. However, Financial Times reports that Stroll has been in conversations with high-ranked executives for more than a year, in search of a “permanent leader” for the troubling brand.
