BMW Group strengthens sales organisation in China

Christoph Stark appointed President & CEO BMW Group Region China
Effective from 1 November 2004, the BMW Group has set up a separate
sales region responsible for the Chinese markets, including the Chinese
Mainland, Hongkong, Macao and Taiwan. The company thus further
strengthens its sales organisation in China, after having successfullly
expanded its presence in the Chinese markets by establishing a
production and sales joint venture in Shenyang with its Chinese Partner
Brilliance China Automotive. For the newly established organisation,
Dr. Christoph Stark (50) has been appointed as President & CEO BMW
Group Region China. Based in Beijing, Stark will be responsible for all
BMW Group activities in the Chinese markets, including sales, marketing
and distribution of imported BMW and MINI automobiles, as well as the
coordination of the BMW Group interests in its joint venture BMW
Brilliance Automotive. Stark will report to Dr. Michael Ganal, who is
responsible for Sales and Marketing on the Board of Management of BMW
AG. Altogether, the sales organisation of the BMW Group now consists
of the regions Germany (Ludwig Willisch), Europe (David Panton),
Americas (Tom Purves), Asia/Pacific/Africa/Eastern Europe (Klaus
Berning) and China (Christoph Stark). The BMW Group has been present in
China with a representative office in Beijing since 1994. During the
subsequent years, the company gradually expanded the scope of its
operations in China, successfully positioning itself as a leading
supplier of premium automotive products. In May 2004, the BMW Group and
Brilliance China Automotive celebrated the Official Grand Opening of
their joint venture plant BMW Brilliance Automotive in Shenyang, the
capital of the Liaoning Province in the North-East of the People's
Republic of China.