BMW appoints new CEO

If there is a gap, someone will always fill it. When former BMW CEO Harald Krueger told the supervisory board in early July that he felt like retiring from his position, the company did not object. Instead, a search for the new candidate begun.

After a couple weeks of searching and deliberations, the Bavarian car manufacturer has announced the winner. Oliver Zipse, 55, will occupy the position since August 16, following Krueger’s official retirement the day before.

Norbert Reithofer, BMW Chairman of Supervisory Board, said he sincerely felt that the new chief would give BMW Group a further development stimulus. The development of environment-friendly cars and autonomous vehicle systems will likely become his key mission for the next several years.

“We highly respect Harald Krueger’s decision and would like to thank him on behalf of our entire company for many years of successful work for the benefit of BMW Group. We would like to give him our very best wishes and hope that BMW Group will forever have a special place in his heart,” Reithofer said.

With a career in BMW spanning all the way back to 1994, Oliver Zipse is by no means a newcomer. He started low – as an intern in one of the company’s many departments – and has reportedly garnered high praise for his outstanding achievements in various fields. His latest, and also the most successful, position was that of Production Chief.