Franz-Josef Paefgen is today settling into his new post as chairman and chief executive of Volkswagen-owned Bentley Motors as acting chief executive Hans-Georg Melching returns to the finance board.
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Paefgen effectively replaces Tony Gott, who left Rolls-Royce and Bentley in November last year “for personal reasons” but subsequently re-surfaced as head of the BMW-owned Rolls-Royce operation that takes over the brand from VW next year, following a deal agreed in 1998.
BMW will make a completely new range of German-designed Rolls-Royce cars in a new factory in the south of England (Goodwood) while VW takes Bentley in a new direction with a revised line-up built in the existing factory at Crewe.
“I am delighted to be taking up this role at Bentley Motors,” Paefgen said. “The outlook for Bentley is both positive and exciting and I look forward to leading this strong team through one of the most important periods in its history.”
His father’s car repair shop apparently sparked off Paefgen’s passion for cars and a long interest in the automotive business. Paefgen’s first car was a Beetle but he is said to have been long a Bentley admirer with the R-Type Continental a particular favourite.
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By GlobalDataBorn in Büttgen, Germany in 1946, Paefgen studied mechanical engineering and economics at Karlsruhe and Aachen. After completing his doctorate, he became a graduate trainee at Ford of Germany in 1976, going on to work in its engine development and quality assurance departments.
In 1980 Paefgen moved to Audi in Neckarsulm to be responsible for interior equipment and electrics. He moved to the manufacturer’s Ingolstadt plant as head of body trim and equipment, climate control systems in 1987. In 1991 he became head of product planning and project management, and three years later was appointed acting head of research and development.
Paefgen was a member of Audi AG’s board of management with responsibility for technical development from early 1995 until April 1997, at the start of which year he took over as deputy chairman.
That summer he was appointed spokesman of the Audi management board, becoming its chairman in March 1998. After the takeover of Lamborghini by Audi in July 1998, Paefgen was appointed president of Automobili Lamborghini Holding.
As chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, he sees his primary task as ensuring that the brand is positioned “on top of everything”.
This sporting luxury car range will, he believes, prove successful and profitable, and Team Bentley will win Le Mans.
The rivalry between the two famous marques will be of great interest to industry watchers. Bentley is known to be planning a new “mid-sized” range of cars priced from around £100,000 ($US140,000) while delivery of the first Rolls-Royce produced at Goodwood is scheduled to take place at the beginning of 2003.
