Oliver Zipse will assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG effective on 16 August 2019. The company’s Supervisory Board made this decision today during its meeting in Spartanburg, South Carolina (USA). Zipse will succeed Harald Krüger, who informed the Chairman of the Supervisory Board at the beginning of July that he would not seek a second term of office. Krüger will resign as Chairman and will leave the Board of Management by mutual agreement on 15 August 2019.
“With Oliver Zipse, a decisive strategic and analytical leader will assume the Chair of the Board of Management of BMW AG. He will provide the BMW Group with fresh momentum in shaping the mobility of the future,” said Dr Nobert Reithofer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BMW AG.
Zipse, the designated Chairman of the Board of Management, has been a member of the Board of Management of BMW AG since 2015 and is currently responsible for the production division. He began his professional career in the company in 1991 as a Trainee and has since held various management positions, including as Managing Director Plant Oxford and Senior Vice President Corporate Planning and Product Strategy.
Reithofer continued: “The Supervisory Board greatly respects the decision by Harald Krüger and today expressed our sincere appreciation for his many years of successful work within the BMW Group. On behalf of the entire company, we all wish him all the best in the future and hope that the BMW Group will always have a special meaning for him.”
The Supervisory Board of BMW AG is currently meeting at the plant location in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA, to discuss current business developments in the US market as well as production at the biggest plant in the global production network of the BMW Group. Reithofer emphasised: “With its innovative strength, strong brands and dedicated employees, the BMW Group will build on its leadership role in the premium segment going forward and continue on its path to long-term success.”
Manfred Schoch, Chairman of the Global Works Council and deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board said: “The strong partnership between the Workers’ Council and corporate management has a long tradition and is the foundation of our success story. We look forward to continuing this cooperation and shaping the future of the company together.”
Good luck to him. Hopefully he will not allow the next run of BMWs to have such large grills, and will get BMW going on the EV side of things.
Large grille?! Guess u haven’t seen a Palisade.
or toyota avalon.
hope he can handle under pressure.
I hope he will hire american designers to develop an american-style Bmw V8 mid-engine made in USA, that everyone loves, without controversy. Don’t forget to move the 3-series production from Mexico to Spartanburg to avoid 25% Trump tax, in order to make more profit, if you are interessted to keep RWD in the next generation 3-series alive.
Good to see a lifelong BMW staff member and production and engineering person taking over as CEO. For Mr Electric Man exiting tenure lies ahead – if oil companies allow and of course ensuring Quandt family shareholders are happy is not an easy task but it goes with the territory!
Oliver looks good………so did a captain of RMS Titanic…
Previous CEO left for VAG, BMW do record volume while he does Dieselgate. BMW’s unique ownership & management structure mean it’s not a Tom Cruise movie, it doesn’t rise or fall on 1 person’s marquee value.
I just genuinely hope that BMW has an exciting future and Zipse hopefully makes the company more inclined towards a sporty company with luxury cars at the same time. I hope we see more EVs in different classes with sufficient mile ranges. I just want BMW to be the standard of its class again. Sure, I love what BMW is today, but I want them to change the game with more innovations in technology and class leading driving dynamics. I hope the cars can also be a decent size for different niches/markets. I want BMW to great as its always been. May BMW constantly succeed and be the benchmark.