Porsche appoints new head of design from McLaren

Porsche has appointed Tobias Sühlmann as Head of Design, effective 1 February 2026, succeeding Michael Mauer who has led the department for more than two decades. Sühlmann joins from McLaren, where he has served as Chief Design Officer since September 2023, bringing experience from previous roles at Bugatti, Aston Martin and Bentley, where he contributed to the design of the Batur.

Mauer joined Porsche in 2004 as the fourth Head of Design in the company’s history, following Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, Anatol Lapine and Harm Lagaay. During his tenure, he oversaw the revision of the Cayenne, the launch of the Panamera and the 918 Spyder, as well as the transition of Porsche’s design language into the electric era. Mauer will continue to support his successor during a transitional period.

In a statement, Michael Leiters, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, said: “Michael Mauer shaped an era at Porsche. Together with his team, he has carefully brought the iconic design of the 911 into the modern era and at the same time unmistakably transferred the Porsche design DNA to new model series.”
Mauer said: “Timeless design needs both: durability and new impulses. In view of Porsche’s strategic realignment, now is a good time to bring new perspectives to the design as well.”

Both Mauer and Sühlmann studied automotive design at Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences.

Source: Porsche