Mercedes-Benz Design Head Wagener Quits After 28 Years, Bastian Baudy To Succeed

Mercedes-Benz Group AG has announced some massive management changes. The biggest of them all is Gorden Wagener, who will be quitting as the company’s Chief Design Officer. He will be succeeded by Bastian Baudy who currently heads the Mercedes' AMG performance car design department.

During his 28-year tenure at Mercedes, Wagener fundamentally transformed the brand’s production car design while also reshaping the company’s internal design philosophy and culture. According to a company statement, Wagner will leave the company at his own request on 31 January 2026.

56-year-old Wagener, who joined Mercedes in 1997 and has led its global design operations since 2008. His replacement, Baudy joined Mercedes-Benz, where he began his career in Advanced Design after graduating from University of Pforzheim in 2010. As the Head of AMG Design, one of  his favorite projects to come out is Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo, a futuristic concept sports car designed for the Gran Turismo 6 video game.

Other Notable Appointments

Besides Wagener, there have been other personnel changes in the Mercedes-Benz top management. Torsten Eder, Head of Electrified Drive Systems, will step down from his role at his own request with effect from 1 May 2026. He will be succeeded by Jörg Bartels, who currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd. (BBAC). In turn, Jens Bühler, presently Head of Production Kecskemét and Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary, will assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of BBAC, succeeding Bartels.

Separately, with effect from 1 January 2026, Rosa Maria Conde Diez, currently Head of Corporate Research, Sustainability and R&D Functions, will take over responsibility for Body and Safety. She will succeed Thomas Hellmuth, who will leave the company at his own request at the end of December 2025. Ida Wolf, currently Head of Chief of Staff and Corporate Office, will succeed Conde Diez as Head of Corporate Research, Sustainability and R&D Functions, effective 1 February 2026.

Adding to the list, with effect from 1 January 2026, Yanni von Roy-Jiang, currently Head of Operations Supply Chain, will take over responsibility for Procurement and Supplier Quality, succeeding Gunnar Güthenke. To ensure a smooth and orderly transition, Güthenke and von Roy-Jiang will jointly oversee the Procurement and Supplier Quality function until February 2026. 

The company said details regarding Gunnar Güthenke’s future role will be communicated at a later date. Additionally, effective 1 April 2026, Stefanie Choritz, currently Head of Finance and Controlling for Top-End Vehicles and Mercedes-AMG GmbH, will succeed Yanni von Roy-Jiang as Head of Operations Supply Chain.

Speaking on this development, Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, said “I look forward to working with the top executives who are now assuming new responsibilities in key positions at Mercedes-Benz. This further sharpens our shared focus on customer value, technological excellence and operational efficiency. At the same time, strong personalities at Mercedes-Benz are taking new paths – leaders who have shaped the company and its products over many years.”

Also READ: First Tesla Superchargers in Gurugram Now Operational