- Supervisory Board designates new management – two new members appointed to
the Board of Management and new Chairman appointed
Munich ... At its meeting on 20 July 2006, the Supervisory Board of BMW
AG made a number of decisions which will shape the management of the BMW Group
in the long term. Dr. Norbert Reithofer (50) was appointed as Chairman of the
Board of Management and will take over this position from Dr. Helmut Panke (59)
on September 1, 2006.
The Supervisory Board appointed also Frank-Peter Arndt (50) to the Board of
Management as Reithofer’s successor with responsibility for Production. Arndt is
currently Head of the BMW Dingolfing plant. In addition, the Supervisory Board
appointed Dr. Klaus Draeger (49) to the Board of Management of BMW AG with
effect from 1 November 2006. At that date, Draeger will take over responsibility
for Research, Development and Purchasing from Professor Dr. Burkhard Göschel
(60). Draeger is currently Director of the development department with
responsibility for the Group’s large model series (BMW 5, 6 and 7 Series).
After the meeting, Professor Joachim Milberg, Chairman of the Supervisory
Board of BMW AG, stated: “These decisions taken by Supervisory Board will shape
the management of the BMW Group in the long run. The newly composed Board of
Management will ensure continuity of management over the coming years and
provide a basis for the continued success of the BMW Group. Both the Supervisory
Board and the company as a whole express their highest gratitude and genuine
appreciation to Dr. Panke for all the successful work he has carried out for the
company.“ Helmut Panke has been with the BMW Group for a total of 24 years; he
has been a member of the Board of Management since 1996 and Chairman of the
Board of Management since May 2002.
Reithofer is currently member of the Board of Management of BMW AG with
responsibility for Production. He has been a member since 2000, and prior to
that, held various offices, including those of Head of the Rosslyn plant in
South Africa and Head of the Spartanburg plant in the USA. Mr. Reithofer joined
BMW AG in 1987.
Panke was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Management after the Annual
General Meeting in 2002, at the same time his predecessor, Professor Milberg,
moved to the Supervisory Board. In his position as Head of Group Planning and
Strategy, Panke was closely involved in sharpening the international focus of
the BMW Group: he took a leading role in the decision and planning of the
Spartanburg plant (South Carolina) in the USA. In 1993, he took over
responsibility for the management of BMW (US) Holding Corp. During his time as
Chairman of the Board of Management, he inaugurated the production plant of the
joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited in Shenyang in
2004 and prepared the path for the establishment of a BMW plant in India, which
is to open next year. Today, the BMW Group has its own production facilities in
12 countries and its own sales companies in 37 countries. BMW, MINI and
Rolls-Royce cars and BMW motorcycles are sold in 140 countries. The BMW Group is
thus the world’s most widely represented manufacturer of premium vehicles.
Internationalisation also secures jobs in Germany – since 2001, the workforce of
the BMW Group has grown by almost 9,000 employees to its current level of
105,800 worldwide; during the same period, the annual sales volume of cars has
increased from approximately 1 million to 1.33 million units and that of
motorcycles from approximately 85,000 to 97,500 units. For the financial year
2006, the BMW Group has reported that it plans to achieve a record profit before
tax of EUR 4 billion, thus making it one of the most profitable companies in the
industry.
Professor Dr. Burkhard Göschel has been with BMW AG since 1978; after holding
various senior positions within the research and development function, he joined
the Board of Management in March 2000, taking over responsibility for Research,
Development und Purchasing. Professor Joachim Milberg thanked Burkhard Göschel
for his steadfast commitment and dedication to the BMW Group over the years:
“Mr. Göschel has played an important role in the area of motorcycle, engine and
vehicle development; the Board of Management team has been responsible for the
most comprehensive model and market initiative in the history of our company.“
As of November 2006 the Board of Management of BMW AG will comprise of the
following members: Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman; Frank-Peter Arndt,
Production; Ernst Baumann, Human Resources and Industrial Director; Dr. Klaus
Draeger, Research, Development und Purchasing; Dr. Michael Ganal, Sales and
Marketing; Stefan Krause, Finance.
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