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 Bentley’s Exterior Design team and oversee the creative direction and design language for its next generation of vehicles. His remit will cover production cars, concept vehicles and future exterior design language as the company moves towards electrification, starting with the Bentley Torcal.
Mayer will also continue to oversee Design Operations, including digital modelling and visualisation, with responsibility for advanced digital design processes and virtual development. He joined Bentley in 2024 as Head of UX Design and Design Operations and has more than 20 years of international automotive design experience.
T.Jon Mayer’s 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. He led the exterior design of vehicles including the EX60, EX30, S60, V60 and V60 Cross Country. He also worked on Volvo’s Concept Coupe family and contributed to the brand’s Thor’s Hammer headlight design signature.
Mayer graduated from Carnegie Mellon University before continuing his studies at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. At Bentley, he 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.
Mayer To Lead Bentley Exterior Design Team
Commenting on the appointment, Robin Page said Mayer had played a role in strengthening the connection between creative design and delivery at Bentley. Page also said Mayer’s leadership had contributed to the UX vision for the Torcal being taken from concept through to production.
Mayer said he would lead the Exterior Design team as Bentley develops its next generation of products. He replaces Domen Rucigaj, who has moved to another position within the Volkswagen Group.