Bentley Exterior Design: T.Jon Mayer Appointed New Head

Bentley Appoints T.Jon Mayer To Lead Exterior Design

Bentley Motors has appointed T.Jon Mayer as its new Head of Exterior Design and Design Operations, effective immediately. He succeeds Domen Rucigaj, who has moved to a new position within the Volkswagen Group. Mayer will lead the exterior design team and oversee the creative direction and design language for the company’s next generation of vehicles. His responsibilities will span production cars, concept vehicles and future exterior design development as Bentley progresses towards electrification, beginning with the Bentley Torcal. The appointment places Mayer in a key position as the luxury automaker develops its future product portfolio and evolves its visual identity alongside its broader electrification strategy.

Mayer Expands Responsibility Across Bentley Design Operations

In addition to leading exterior design, Mayer will continue overseeing Design Operations, covering digital modelling, visualisation and advanced digital design processes. He joined Bentley Motors in 2024 as Head of UX Design and Design Operations and brings more than 20 years of international automotive design experience. His expanded remit combines creative leadership with digital development and virtual vehicle creation, allowing exterior design activities to remain closely connected with modern development processes. Mayer will report to Robin Page, Director of Design, and lead a multi-skilled team of 45 responsible for exterior design development across Bentley’s current and future product portfolio, alongside digital surfacing and visualisation operations.

T.Jon Mayer Brings More Than Two Decades Of Automotive Design Experience

Before joining Bentley, Mayer spent 13 years at Volvo Cars, where he held senior leadership positions including Head of Exterior Design and Head of Design, Volvo Cars USA. During his tenure, he led the exterior design of vehicles including the EX60, EX30, S60, V60 and V60 Cross Country. His work also extended to Volvo’s Concept Coupe family and the development of the brand’s Thor’s Hammer headlight design signature. This experience gives Mayer a broad background spanning production vehicles, concept development and brand design language, areas that align closely with his expanded responsibilities at Bentley as the company prepares its next generation of products.

Education And Leadership Responsibilities

Mayer graduated from Carnegie Mellon University before continuing his studies at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. At Bentley, he will lead a team of 45 specialists working across exterior design development, digital surfacing and visualisation operations. His responsibilities will cover Bentley’s existing portfolio as well as future products, requiring coordination between creative design development and digital production processes. His previous leadership experience at Volvo provides a foundation for managing large-scale automotive design activities, while his work at Bentley since 2024 has already given him direct experience with the company’s UX vision and Design Operations. The new role therefore builds on responsibilities he has already undertaken within the organisation.

Focus On Future Bentley Products And Electrification

Mayer’s appointment comes as Bentley develops its next generation of products and advances towards electrification. The company has identified the Bentley Torcal as the starting point for this direction, making exterior design an important element of its future product strategy. Mayer will oversee the creative development of production vehicles and concept models while shaping the exterior design language that will define upcoming products. His combined responsibility for exterior design and digital operations also connects visual development with virtual modelling and validation processes. This approach is intended to support the transition from initial design concepts to production while maintaining consistency across Bentley’s future vehicle portfolio.

Leadership Transition Within The Volkswagen Group

Mayer replaces Domen Rucigaj, who has moved to another position within the Volkswagen Group. The transition keeps the exterior design function under new leadership while allowing Mayer to build on the work he has already undertaken at Bentley. Robin Page said Mayer had helped strengthen the connection between creative design and delivery at the company, with his leadership contributing to the UX vision for the Torcal progressing from concept through to production. Mayer said he would lead the Exterior Design team as Bentley develops its next generation of products, highlighting the role of design leadership in the company’s future vehicle development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is T.Jon Mayer?
T.Jon Mayer is an automotive designer with more than 20 years of international experience who has been appointed Bentley’s Head of Exterior Design and Design Operations. Before joining Bentley in 2024, he spent 13 years at Volvo Cars in senior design leadership roles. His previous work included exterior design for models such as the EX60, EX30, S60, V60 and V60 Cross Country, along with Volvo concept vehicles and its Thor’s Hammer lighting signature. At Bentley, Mayer will lead a 45-person multi-skilled team responsible for exterior design, digital surfacing and visualisation across current and future products.