Hyundai Promotes Former Bentley, BMW Execs

Hyundai Motor Co. has promoted two former executives who recently joined the South Korean carmaker from German luxury brands.

Luc Donckerwolke, who left as design chief for Volkswagen Group’s Bentley Motors unit in 2015, joined Hyundai a year later. Hyundai says he will now succeed Peter Schreyer as head of design. 

Thomas Schemera, who had headed BMW’s M performance unit, joined Hyundai in March to run that company’s motorsport and new “N” performance activities. He has been tapped to lead product planning for Hyundai’s autonomous, connected and electrified vehicles.

The promotions come as Hyundai scrambles to reverse sagging sales and shrinking profits, catch up with rivals on advanced mobility services and expand its electrification and fuel-cell vehicle operations.