New roles across the European design team
At Opel and Vauxhall, Leclercq succeeds Mark Adams, who is retiring and leaving the company after almost 25 years with the two brands. Leclercq reports to Gilles Vidal, head of design for Stellantis' European brands, and will serve on the Executive Committee led by Opel and Vauxhall CEO Florian Huettl.
Bhambra also reports to Vidal. His appointment puts him on the leadership teams of both Citroën and DS Automobiles, whose CEO is Xavier Chardon. Thierry Metroz, previously DS Automobiles' design chief, will move into a role supporting Vidal as he develops and implements the European design strategy.
Stellantis links the appointments to its FaSTLane 2030 strategic plan. The company says its product ambitions bring together distinctive brand identities, innovation, emotional appeal and customer appeal.
According to Auto Express, Vidal coordinates the European brands' design houses and works closely with global design chief Ralph Gilles, who reports to Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa. Vidal led Peugeot's design overhaul in the late 2010s before moving to Renault, where he oversaw the 5, 4 and Twingo, and later returning to Stellantis.
Bhambra's path through Peugeot and Renault
Bhambra joined Stellantis in April 2026 as vice president of design strategy for Europe. Before that, he was at Renault Group, which he joined in 2021 as chief designer for advanced design and concept cars. There, he helped shape the brand's design strategy and led several concept vehicle projects. Responsibility for Renault's Indian design studio was added to his role in 2025.
His earlier work included more than a decade at Peugeot Design in Vélizy, where he arrived as an exterior designer in 2010. His projects spanned production vehicles, concepts and advanced design: the second-generation Peugeot 2008 and 5008, the Onyx concept, and preliminary design work for the third-generation Peugeot 3008 and Citroën Ami.
Bhambra studied mechanical engineering at the University of Pune in India and completed a master's degree in transportation design at France's Strate École de Design. He entered the automotive industry at Mahindra & Mahindra in 2003, followed by roles at Tata Technologies and Tata Motors in India and the United Kingdom.
Leclercq brings experience from Europe and Asia
Leclercq had led Citroën design since November 1, 2018, helping establish a new visual identity for the brand. He arrived from Kia in South Korea, where he became design director in 2017, after taking the design leadership role at China's Great Wall Motors in 2013.
A 1998 graduate of ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, Leclercq began his career at Ford's Ghia studio in Italy. He joined BMW Group in 2000 and spent ten years working across BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce. In 2011, he became head of design at BMW M, the automaker's performance division.
Stellantis credits his Citroën tenure with design leadership on both production vehicles and concepts. The production lineup included the new C3, C3 Aircross, Basalt, Ami, C4, C4 X and C5 Aircross. His concept work included ELO and OLI, along with the 2 CV and 2 CV Fourgonnette concepts unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.
