Effective November 2, 2026, Sandeep Bhambra will lead Design for the Citroën and DS Automobiles brands. He will report to Gilles Vidal, Head of Design for Stellantis’ European brands, and join the management teams of both Citroën and DS Automobiles, under leadership of Xavier Chardon, CEO of both brands.
Sandeep Bhambra succeeds Pierre Leclercq and Thierry Metroz respectively. Pierre Leclercq takes over as Head of Design for Opel & Vauxhall, succeeding Mark Adams, who is retiring. Thierry Metroz will support Gilles Vidal on Design strategy for Europe. “The arrival of Sandeep Bhambra marks a new step in our ambition to strengthen the identity and appeal of our brands. His experience, creativity and vision of Design will be valuable assets in supporting Citroën and DS Automobiles in expressing strong and distinctive identities, true to their heritage while firmly looking to the future. I would also like to thank Pierre Leclercq for his work and contribution to Citroën. His talent and vision have helped shape several key projects and reinforce the brand’s distinctive character. I wish him every success in his new role at Opel .” said Xavier Chardon, CEO of Citroën and DS Automobiles.
A graduate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pune, India, and holder of a Master’s degree in Transportation Design from Strate, France, Sandeep Bhambra began his career in the automotive industry in 2003 at Mahindra & Mahindra in India. He subsequently pursued his career in Design, notably at Tata Technologies and Tata Motors, in India and the United Kingdom. In 2010, he joined Peugeot Design in Vélizy as an Exterior Designer. Over more than ten years, he contributed to the development of numerous production vehicles, concept cars and Advanced Design projects, including the second generation Peugeot 2008.
Since April 2026, Sandeep Bhambra has been Vice President Design Strategy Europe at Stellantis.