PressClub Global · Article.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös to be appointed CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd.
Wed Jan 20 12:15:00 CET 2010 Press Release
Tom Purves to retire
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Munich/Goodwood. Torsten
Müller-Ötvös (49) will assume management of Rolls-Royce
Motor Cars Ltd., a subsidiary of BMW AG based in Goodwood, UK, at the
end of March. Müller-Ötvös succeeds Tom Purves (61) as
Chief
Executive Officer. Purves, who has held this position
since July 2008, will retire as of 31.03.2010.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös has been with the BMW Group for more than 20 years. During this time he held a number of management positions in the Sales and Marketing Division. He successfully re-launched the MINI brand and internationally re-established this quintessentially British marque as the first premium small car brand. In January 2004 he assumed responsibility for central Group marketing and brand management at BMW. Müller-Ötvös has been running BMW’s global product management since April 2008, as well as parts of its after-sales business.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös will continue to report to Ian
Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for
Group sales and marketing and also Chairman of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Ltd. Ian Robertson: “Torsten Müller-Ötvös has
many years of solid experience in the fields of brand and product
management as well as marketing. He is the perfect candidate to lead
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars into a period of expansion – having
not only a successful track record as a manager, but also a feel for
the unique attributes of a traditional brand.”
Ian Robertson also took the opportunity to thank Tom Purves for his extensive and fruitful commitment to the BMW Group: “Over the years, the outstanding work of Tom has contributed greatly to the success of the Group, particularly in the UK and the Americas. For this, the entire Board of Management of BMW AG expresses their sincere gratitude to Tom and wishes him continued success in his future endeavours.”
Tom Purves succeeded Ian Robertson as CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. in July 2008. His previous posts included more than nine years as President of BMW North America, LLC and head of the sales region there, where he successfully managed BMW Group activities throughout North and South America. Under his tenure sales and market share more than doubled. He began his career in the automotive industry back in 1966 as an engineer at the former Rolls-Royce headquarters in Crewe, UK, before joining the BMW Group in 1985.
Hildegard Wortmann (43) will succeed Torsten Müller-Ötvös in the central Product Management and Aftersales functions.