Ferrari vs Porsche: Founders, CEOs and History
Ferrari was founded in 1947 by Enzo Ferrari and is led by Benedetto Vigna. Porsche was founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche, Ferry Porsche and is led by Michael Leiters.
Company facts
Founders
Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari, famously known as 'Il Commendatore', was a complex, notoriously abrasive, and effective figure. He didn't care about selling road cars; his only passion was winning races.
Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951) founded Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche GmbH in Stuttgart in 1931 as a design consultancy. The office designed the Auto Union Grand Prix cars and the Volkswagen Beetle.
Ferry Porsche
Ferry Porsche (1909-1998) built the 356, the first car sold under the Porsche name, in 1948 and led the company as it became a sports-car manufacturer, overseeing the launch of the 911 in 1963. He later served as chairman of the supervisory board.
CEOs and their tenures
Ferrari
- Sergio Marchionne2014–2018
Former Chairman and CEO
Marchionne transformed Ferrari from a specialized division within a mass-market automaker into one of the most valuable, capitalized luxury brands in the world.
Source - John Elkann2018–present
Executive Chairman
Represents Ferrari's largest shareholder, Exor, on the board and oversees long-term strategy.
Source - Benedetto Vigna2021–present
Chief Executive Officer
Vigna's leadership marks a profound shift for Ferrari, emphasizing digital innovation and sustainable performance over pure internal combustion heritage.
Source
Porsche
- Dr. Oliver Blume2015–2025
Chairman of the Executive Board (CEO)
Blume's tenure covered record results in 2022-2023, the Taycan launch and the 2022 IPO. The EV-heavy plan set under him proved costly, and the 2025 reversal left his successor a turnaround.
Source - Dr. Jochen Breckner2025–present
Member of the Executive Board for Finance and IT (CFO)
Oversees cost reduction and cash flow during the 2026 reset; H1 2026 automotive net cash flow was about $1.15 billion (EUR1.02 billion).
Source - Dr. Michael Leiters2026–present
Chairman of the Executive Board (CEO)
He took over after 2025 operating profit fell to ~$467 million (EUR413 million). In 2026 he has pursued a 'value over volume' plan, a 'Future Package' with about $2.37 billion (EUR2.1 billion) of site investment through 2035 and roughly 5,000 job reductions by…
Source
Timeline: Ferrari and Porsche side by side
1931Porsche
Porsche Engineering Office Founded
Ferdinand Porsche founded the engineering consultancy in Stuttgart.
1947Ferrari
Company Founded
Enzo Ferrari founded the company.
1948Porsche
Porsche 356 Built
Ferry Porsche led production of the first Porsche-branded sports car, using the rear-engine, air-cooled layout that would define the brand.
1963Porsche
911 Introduced
Porsche introduced the 911, the model that became the brand's central sports-car icon and remains its defining product line today.
1969Ferrari
Fiat Acquisition
Fiat acquired a 50% stake.
1988Ferrari
Death of Enzo
Founder Enzo Ferrari passed away.
2002Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari launched
Launched the Enzo model.
2002Porsche
Cayenne Launch
The Cayenne SUV created a new profit engine and broadened Porsche's customer base beyond sports-car buyers.
2015Ferrari
Initial Public Offering
Ferrari completed its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.
2019Porsche
Taycan Launch
Porsche launched the Taycan as its first dedicated battery-electric vehicle.
2022Porsche
Porsche AG IPO
Porsche AG listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under CEO Oliver Blume, who simultaneously ran parent Volkswagen Group.
2025Porsche
Profit Collapses on EV Writedown
Porsche reworked its EV-first product plan; full-year operating profit fell to ~$467 million (EUR413 million) on revenue of ~$41 billion (EUR36.27 billion), with China deliveries down 26%.
2026Ferrari
Luce unveiled
First fully electric Ferrari unveiled at about €550,000.
2026Porsche
Michael Leiters Becomes CEO
Dr. Michael Leiters became Chairman of the Executive Board effective January 1, 2026, ending Oliver Blume's dual role running both Porsche and Volkswagen Group.
2026Porsche
H1 2026 Profit Recovery and Future Package
First-half operating profit rose 34% to ~$1.53 billion (EUR1.35 billion); Porsche outlined about $2.37 billion (EUR2.1 billion) of site investment and around 5,000 job reductions by the mid-2030s.
Acquisitions
Porsche
- Fazua2022Undisclosed
- Bugatti Rimac (joint venture stake)2021Undisclosed
Questions about Ferrari vs Porsche
Who is the CEO of Ferrari N.V. and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG?
Ferrari N.V. is led by Benedetto Vigna and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is led by Michael Leiters. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Ferrari N.V. founded vs Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG?
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG was founded in 1931 — 16 years before Ferrari N.V., which was founded in 1947. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Ferrari N.V..
How many employees does Ferrari N.V. have compared to Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG?
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG employs approximately 41,780 people. A verified employee count for Ferrari N.V. is not currently available.
Where are Ferrari N.V. and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG headquartered?
Ferrari N.V. is headquartered in Italy and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is headquartered in Germany. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Ferrari N.V. and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG?
Ferrari N.V. was founded by Enzo Ferrari. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG was founded by Ferdinand Porsche, Ferry Porsche.
Which company has a longer operating history — Ferrari N.V. or Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG?
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG has been operating for approximately 95 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Ferrari N.V. has been in operation for around 79 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Ferrari vs Porsche overview