Ex-Ferrari F1 chief to head Lamborghini

LAMBORGHINI has named former Ferrari Formula One team boss Stefano Domenicali as its incoming CEO, replacing long-serving company chief Stephan Winkelmann on March 15.

Mr Domenicali, 50, has worked for Lamborghini sister brand Audi – all part of the Volkswagen Group – since November 2014, serving as vice-president for new business initiatives.

In turn, Mr Winkelmann, 51, who has overseen the Italian supercar marque as president and CEO since 2005, will become chief executive of Audi’s performance division, quattro GmbH.

Joining Lamborghini after rising through the ranks of the Fiat Group, Mr Winkelmann is credited with more than doubling Lamborghini’s sales over the past decade – passing 3000 units for the first time last year (to 3245), including 84 in Australia – and more than tripling turnover.

The global retail network has also tripled under his watch to encompass 135 dealers in 50 countries, including four in Australia.

Models introduced under Mr Winkelmann’s leadership include the V10 Huracan, V12 Aventador, Gallardo derivatives and various limited editions and one-offs, while the forthcoming Urus luxury SUV – officially approved last year and to begin production in 2018 – will mark a new era for the company.

“Over the past 11 years Stephan Winkelmann has transformed Lamborghini into a global leader in the manufacture of super-sportscars,” said Automobili Lamborghini (and Audi AG) chairman Rupert Stadler.

“His successor, who also possesses a wealth of experience in this area, will be continuing this success.”

Mr Domenicali began his professional career with Ferrari in the early 1990s, starting in finance but soon moving to Scuderia Ferrari, the prancing horse brand’s racing division where in 2003 he took over as head of business planning and director of the Ferrari-owned Mugello circuit.

Three years later he added responsibility for sponsors of Scuderia Ferrari and went on to become sporting director of the F1 team in 1998. In subsequent years he headed the Direzione Sportiva F1 (2004-2007) and in 2008 became team principal of Scuderia Ferrari F1, which won the constructors’ world championship that year.

He also represented Ferrari at the FIA World Motor Sport Council – a body he still belongs to – and currently serves as president of the FIA Single Seater Commission.

Mr Domenicali, who resigned from Ferrari in 2014 after 23 years with the brand, said he was “very excited to be taking on the challenges of this great legacy” at Lamborghini, adding that he considered it his duty to continue the success Mr Winkelmann had achieved.

For his part, Mr Winkelmann said: “I have been responsible for Lamborghini for a significant period of time in its history, and in the process have always aimed to use the brand’s potential to achieve very ambitious goals.

“Lamborghini’s key corporate data displays continual, profitable growth with a focus on the development of new products, new processes, and many other corporate sectors.

“Together with my colleagues from the board of directors, I was able to facilitate successful initial release of our third model series (Urus) being launched in 2018.

“These successes would not have been possible without the passion, skill, creativity and courage that are ingrained in the Lamborghini DNA and in our employees. I would like to thank everyone for this time from the bottom of my heart.”