It’s a hard job being the head of an ultra-luxury brand – but get it right and the rewards are huge
The leaders in this ultra-luxury world have a doubly hard job in that they must work with limited finances to create world-beating cars that have to wow some of the toughest customers.
Get it right and the rewards are huge, as shown at Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and increasingly at Bentley and Lamborghini.
Get it wrong and you’ve a tough mountain to climb, but those starting at ravine-level such as Lawrence Stroll at Aston Martin and Michael Leiters at McLaren are proving they have the resilience needed.
We celebrate these leaders in the Power List 100, sponsored by Keyloop.
Power List 100 2023 – Ultra-luxury leaders
Lawrence Stroll, Chairman, Aston Martin
There were few harder roles to take on than chairman of Aston Martin a few years ago. But, after surviving an array of financial bumps, Lawrence Stroll has come out the other side showing he really was the man for the job. Now, the brand’s first electric car is on the horizon which will join a surge of eight new sports cars by 2026. Shares in Aston Martin are also on the up after revenues in the first half of 2023 soared 25% year-on-year.
Michael Leiters, CEO, McLaren Automotive
It is a busy time for McLaren. Last year the British brand pushed into the electrified era with the hybrid-powered Artua, and welcomed new boss Michael Leiters. The German has already helped the firm post slightly increased sales last year, but he is already looking forward to push that higher still: he wants to evolve the car maker’s offering beyond purely mid-engined supercars. An SUV has indeed been touted.
Benedetto Vigna, CEO, Ferrari
As the man that brought in Ferrari’s first SUV, Benedetto Vigna’s Prancing Horse legacy will be defined by the success of the Purosangue. The 54-year-old has been at the helm of Ferrari since 2021, and has already brought with him record-breaking success. This came in the form of last year’s sales, which reached 13,221 sales, up from 11,155 in 2021.
Stephan Winkelmann, CEO, Lamborghini
One of the mavericks of the automotive world, Stephan Winkelmann is a man whose sharp looks match his just-as-sharp outlook on luxury car selling. The German, who in 2020 returned to Lamborghini after a stint at Bugatti for his second spell as CEO, is heading up major changes at the firm, including overseeing its last combustion-engined model and pushing forward into an electrified age.
Tortsen Muller-Otvos, CEO, Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce doesn’t have the sales numbers of other brands but, under Torsten Müller-Ötvös, it continues to punch well above its weight in global exposure. He has been in charge since 2010 and in that time has increased sales virtually every year, thanks to successfully tapping into the global elite’s ever-expanding appetite for luxury. Last year, the brand hit a record 15,174 sales.
Adrian Hallmark, CEO Bentley
Now in his second stint at Bentley, it’s hard to overstate Adrian Hallmark’s value to the luxury manufacturer. Since his return as CEO (he was previously integral to the launch of the 2003 Continental GT) the numbers have been staggering – record sales despite the pandemic and supply issues. Now, with his bold electrification plan, Bentley is set up for the future.
How are the 100 names in Autocar’s Power List chosen?
The Power List ranks is made up of the world’s 100 most influential automotive heads, based on the following criteria: global reach and influence, spending power, share of voice, technological influence, future growth potential and market capitalisation.
The top 10 are ranked and the remaining 90 names on the list are grouped into categories, including executives from more traditional car makers to the rising powerhouses from China and the latest technology and mobility companies.
These names were chosen by the editors of Autocar Business, the B2B product from the publisher of Autocar, designed to bring industry readers even closer to the inner workings and key players of the global automotive industry.
The full list will be available to download on 18 October.
