Slipstream - January 2001

Wolfgang Dürheimer to Head Development Center
Copy courtesy of Porsche AG
Stuttgart. After over 40 years in the service of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche
AG, Stuttgart, Horst Marchart has decided to retire on March 31, 2001.
As the Executive Board Member for Research and Development, he had
a major influence on the successful Porsche sports car product range and
thus on the company's financial turnaround after difficult crisis years. It
was under his responsibility that the 993 and 996 versions of the 911
models, and also the Boxster, made their way from the drawing board to the
road. Marchart's youngest "prodigy", the near-series high-performance
Carrera GT sports car study, created much excitement in international
circles only a few weeks ago at the Paris Motor Show. Born in Vienna and
the father of four grown-up children, Horst Marchart will celebrate his
62nd birthday on 28th March 2001.
At its meeting on January 18th 2001 the Supervisory Board will
propose Wolfgang Dürheimer, who is currently 911 model line executive
manager, as Horst Marchart's successor. Dürheimer has been at Porsche
AG since January 1999. Previously, he was a member of general management
at the motorcycle division of BMW AG with responsibility for the
research and development department and project management.
Dürheimer was born in 1958 in Martinszell in the Upper Allgäu region
of Germany. He is married and the father of two children.
A "lucky break for Porsche" is how Professor Helmut Sihler,
Chairman of the Stuttgart sports car maker's Supervisory Board,
described Horst Marchart, and praised his work for the company:
"He especially impressed everyone with his comprehensive technical
knowledge as an engineer. This was also true of both his managerial skills
and his ability to get things done, not only by focusing the potential of all
the workforce in Weissach on the project in hand, but also by continually
extending its activities. In all his years and in his positions at the
Company, Horst Marchart has made a considerable contribution
toward making Porsche the epitome of innovation, fascination and
emotion on the international sports car scene. The Supervisory Board,
Executive Board and shareholders would like to express their heartfelt
thanks to him."
The proposal to nominate 42-year-old Wolfgang Dürheimer as the
new Board member responsible for research and development, is for
Sihler further categorical proof of the ongoing generation change at
Porsche: "Young, talented and already highly experienced people will and
must shape the future of our company. Wolfgang Dürheimer has not
only proved his ability in the last few years, but also, as anyone can see,
understands Porsche's product and corporate philosophy. We wish him
good fortune in all his future decisions.”
Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking, Chief Executive of Porsche AG, particularly
emphasized Horst Marchart's spirit of cooperation and fairness:
“With his wealth of technical and human experience, but also with his
proverbial Austrian composure, he has positively influenced important
decisions especially at critical moments. For me, Horst Marchart is a
dyed-in-the-wool Porsche personality from whom one can learn a great
deal, regardless of whether one is on the Board or in Weissach.”
Wiedeking also drew attention to the innumerable race victories,
particularly in Le Mans, which carry Marchart's signature to this very day.
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