Exterior design specialist T. Jon Mayer is moving over to Bentley to take on a multi-faceted role.
Mayer, who announced his departure from Volvo in February, will become the head of design operations at Bentley. According to Car Design News, Mayer will oversee the following teams: project management, digital surfacing, studio engineering, and visualization.
Mayer replaces Christian Schreiber, who takes on a new role at Volkswagen as head of design strategy, design modeling, and digitalization.
Mayer worked on numerous production vehicles and concept cars during his time at Volvo. This list includes the Volvo EX30, 2012 Ford Fusion, Concept XC Coupe, Volvo S60, V60, and V60 Cross Country.
This move to Bentley sets up a reunion with Robin Page, who previously served as Volvo’s head of design. Page became the design director at Bentley in 2023. Mayer will report directly to Page in his new role.
Mayer spent more than a decade at Volvo before moving to Bentley
Mayer originally joined Volvo’s exterior design team in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2011. He became head of exterior design at Volvo Cars in 2021.
The veteran designer spent time as head of design at the Volvo Design & Concept Center in Camarillo, California. The studio experienced growth within Volvo Cars as it provided production design ideas “from a uniquely U.S. perspective.”
Volvo announced in 2021 its goal to sell only fully electric vehicles by 2030. Mayer was a key figure in this process as Volvo highlighted him in 2021 as “the right person to lead us into a fully electric future.”
Prior to joining Volvo, Mayer graduated from Mayer Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design. He also earned a Minor in Business Administration.
Mayer attended the Art Center College of Design, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Transportation Design.