Exec responsible for Porsche 918 Spyder now CEO of Bentley [Video]

Bentley on Tuesday named Frank-Steffen Walliser, a veteran of fellow Volkswagen Group brand Porsche, as its new CEO.

Walliser will take over the role on July 1 from Adrian Hallmark, who in March announced plans to join Aston Martin as its new CEO starting on Oct. 1. Hallmark will replace Amedeo Felisa, who is retiring.

Walliser has been at Porsche since 1995. One career highlight was overseeing development of the 918 Spyder hypercar starting in 2010. He later became head of motorsports at Porsche, before taking over management of the 718 and 911 sports car lines, and finally becoming the person in charge for overall vehicle development at Porsche.

Walliser’s background is in mechanical engineering, with a focus on internal-combustion engines. However, he joins Bentley at a time when the automaker has likely launched its final combustion engine, a new twin-turbocharged V-8 that forms part of a plug-in hybrid powertrain known as the Ultra Performance Hybrid.

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