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© History Oasis
1906–1926
Known as “the hyphen in Rolls-Royce,” Claude Johnson created the brand’s luxury reputation. Johnson was known for publicity stunts like driving a Silver Ghost from London to Glasgow without service in 1906, showcasing the brand’s reliability. Johnson’s leadership laid the foundation for Rolls-Royce’s global prestige. He introduced the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot in 1911 and solidified Rolls-Royce as a symbol of British engineering excellence.
1926–1929
Basil Johnson was Claude’s brother. He was the Managing Director during a transitional period after Claude’s death. His tenure focused on maintaining production, including the popular Phantom I (introduced in 1925). But there are no known major innovations recorded.
1929–1945
Sidgreaves led Rolls-Royce through the Great Depression and World War II. He shifted gears to aircraft engine production, notably the Merlin engine, which was critical to the Allied effort during the war. Luxury car production continued with the introduction of the Phantom II (1929) and Phantom III (1935).
1946–1957
Ernest Hives, nicknamed “Rolly,” refocused the company in aerospace and oversaw the continued production of the automotive division. His leadership saw post-war recovery and the introduction of new car models. Rolly saw the launch of the Silver Wraith (1946) and Silver Dawn (1949). He was knighted in 1950 for his contributions to British industry.
1945–1967
Dr. Smith continued leading Rolls-Royce in its growing aerospace division. But he’s most remembered for pushing for the production of the RB211 engine, which led to financial strain and bankruptcy in 1971. The bankruptcy became a national scandal, leading to the nationalization of the company. He also oversaw the introduction of the Silver Cloud (1955) and Phantom V (1959).
1971–1980
Plastow led the automotive division and saw the company’s separation into Rolls-Royce Motors in 1973. He maintained the brand’s luxury status amidst financial restructuring. Plastow continued overseeing the production of the popular Silver Shadow, launched in 1965. For his efforts in restoring the brand’s image, Plastow was knighted in 1981.
1980–1986
Vickers acquired Rolls Royce Motors in 1980, stabilizing the company. Fenn managed Rolls-Royce Motors under Vickers’ ownership, focusing on brand prestige during economic challenges. He contributed to the Silver Spirit and Silver Spur launch in 1980.
1986–1994
Peter Ward was known for balancing tradition with innovation. He oversaw the launch of the new Bentley models, which shared Rolls-Royce platforms, with the luxury favorite Bentley Continental R, launching in 1991. Ward was a steady hand steering consistent production in times of economic turbulence.
1994–1998
Chis Woodwark oversaw the sale of Rolls-Royce Motors to Volkswagen in 1998, with BMW securing the Rolls-Royce brand name in 1998. His tenure was brief. Woodwark navigated the complex ownership transition seamlessly.
1998–2003
Graham Morris led Rolls-Royce during the transition to Volkswagen ownership, overseeing the final Rolls-Royce cars produced at Crewe, including the last Rolls-Royce manufactured at Crewe in 2002. He also split off the Rolls-Royce and Bentley as stand-alone brands.
2010–2023
Müller-Ötvös revitalized Rolls-Royce under BMW. He launched modern models and achieved record sales for the brand. Some of these famous models include the Ghost (2009), Wraith (2013), and the Spectre (2023). Müller-Ötvös also had the brand expand into electric vehicles. He retired as the longest-serving CEO.
2023–present
Cris Brownridge is a former BMW UK executive who continues the brand’s legacy with a focus on innovation and sustainability. He is currently overseeing the development of Spectre and future electric models.
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