Domenicali sworn in at Lambo

As first reported in a global exclusive in motoring.com.au, Lamborghini has confirmed that former Ferrari Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali will take over at the helm of Lamborghini.

In a statement issued today, the Italian supercar maker said Domenicali would become President and Chief Executive Officer of Lamborghini on March 15.

The move comes at a tricky time for Lamborghini as it works its way into the sports SUV market with the Urus, giving it a full third model line for the first time in its history.

Domenicali has big (and stylish) shoes to fill over from Stephan Winkelmann, the longest servingpPresident in Lamborghini’s history, who helped bring the company from an also ran to a genuine player in the global supercar market.

Winkelmann will head up Audi’s go-fast Quattro GmbH division (as also scooped by motoring.com.au), but will forever be remembered as the figurehead who turned Lamborghini into a credible Ferrari rival with a range of surprisingly practical all-wheel drive supercars.

Lamborghini’s sales more than doubled under Winkelmann, turnover has tripled and so has the global dealer network, with 135 dealers now spread across 50 countries

“Over the past 11 years Stephan Winkelmann has transformed Lamborghini into a global leader in the manufacture of super sports cars,” his former, and still, direct boss, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler assessed.

“His successor, who also possesses a wealth of experience in this area, will be continuing this success.”

Domenicali is widely respected, even though he has never managed a commercial business unit, and never one with 1300 employees.

“I am very excited to be taking on the challenges of this great legacy,” Domenicali said yesterday.

“It is now my duty to continue the successes that my predecessor Stephan Winkelmann achieved for Automobili Lamborghini.”

Domenicali is a product of the same Emilia Romagna state as Lamborghini’s hometown of Sant’Agata Bolognese. He was born in Imola (the former home of the European Grand Prix and the circuit where both Roland Ratzengerger and Ayrton Senna died in 1994) and studied business administration in Bologna.

He joined Ferrari in 1991 and moved to GES, the Formula 1 operation, to head up its business planning office in 1993, a role which incorporated the management of both Ferrari’s Fiorano test track and its Mugello racetrack in Tuscany.

He was promoted to head up sponsor relations in 1996, then became Sporting Director in 1998. He became Team Principal in 2008, winning the Constructors' World Title at his first attempt.

He was Ferrari’s representative on the FIA World Motor Sport Council from 2009 to 2014, and still sits on the Council as Audi’s representative, and he is president of the FIA Single Seater Commission.

After an aborted poaching attempt in 2012, he was hired by Audi as its Vice President of New Business Initiatives in 2014.

The Berlin-born, Rome-raised Winkelmann was known for his sharp dressing habits and his equally sharp boardroom presence, which took him from Fiat to the Volkswagen Group and Lamborghini.

“I have been responsible for Lamborghini for a significant period of time in its history, and in the process have always aimed to use the brand’s potential to achieve very ambitious goals,” Winkelmann said.

His guidance delivered Lamborghini a Top Employer Italia 2016 certification, along with Winkelmann personally being awarded Italy’s Knight Grand Cross, the highest level in the Italian Republic’s Order of Merit, from President Giorgio Napolitano in 2014.

“Lamborghini’s key corporate data displays continual, profitable growth with a focus on the development of new products, new processes, and many other corporate sectors.

“Together with my colleagues from the Board of Directors, I was able to facilitate successful initial release of our third model series being launched in 2018.

“These successes would not have been possible without the passion, skill, creativity and courage that are ingrained in the Lamborghini DNA and in our employees. I would like to thank everyone for this time from the bottom of my heart,” the former paratrooper explained.