Mercedes-Benz Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener is leaving the company. After 31 years of service, which saw design noted highs and lows, Wagener will depart his role on January 31, 2026 “at his own request and by best mutual agreement” the company said in a press release.
Wagener’s departure comes on the heels of a half-decade of criticism over the looks of the Mercedes-Benz EQ lineup and, more recently, the infusion of luxury fashion brand-like design into the Mercedes-Benz CLA Concept and Mercedes-Maybach SL 680.
During his tenure, the designer expanded the brand into new avenues, spearheading efforts for Mercedes-Benz branded apartment buildings in Dubai and Miami and the new Mercedes-Maybach yacht.
“Gorden Wagener has shaped the identity of our brands with his visionary design philosophy. Over many years, he has made a decisive contribution ensuring that our innovative products are synonymous with unique aesthetics worldwide. His creativity and his sense for the future of automotive design have sustainably enriched Mercedes-Benz. I would like to thank Gorden for his commitment, his exceptional work and his lasting influence – and wish him all the best for the future,” said Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, in a press release.
Mercedes-Benz has had several management position shakeups over the last six months as the brand dealt with the retirements of key Board of Management members including Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer who was replaced by Jörg Burzer, who vacated his role as the Member of the Board of Management responsible for Production, Quality & Supply Chain Management and was replaced by Michael Schiebe, who left his role as the CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH and Head of the Top End Vehicle Group.
The automaker also joined a growing list of companies that removed the Chief Marketing Officer position from its roster.
Wagener will be replaced by Bastian Baudy, who is currently the head of Mercedes-AMG design. Baudy studied Transportation Design at Pforzheim University. He has been responsible for the design of the entire product portfolio of the performance brand from Affalterbach, Germany, since 2023, including models that have yet to make their debut.