PressClub Global · Article.
Change in Management: BMW Group Technology Office USA.
Thu Sep 01 14:05:00 CEST 2011 Press Release
Innovation Center in Silicon Valley.
Press Contact.
Osama El-Sherif
BMW Group
Tel: +971-4-3129-964
send an e-mail
Author.
Osama El-Sherif
BMW Group
Related Links.
This article in other PressClubs
Mountain View / California. Effective September 1, 2011, Dr. Dirk Rossberg will become the new head of the BMW Group Technology Office USA in Mountain View, California. He succeeds Stephan Durach, who is returning to BMW AG in Munich after three years in the United States. On his return, Stefan will head the BMW Group Entertainment and Mobile Devices Department.
“I feel privileged to have spent time here and am delighted that we were able to implement some key changes during my tenure in Mountain View. An example of this innovative change was the quick series integration of the Pandora App into BMW’s Connected Drive BMW Apps and MINI Connected options. ,” commented Stephan Durach as he reflected on his achievements (Pandora is the leading internet radio service in the USA). “I’m now looking forward to taking on new challenges with series development in Munich – I’m definitely in a position to transfer a wealth of experience from the Technology Office.”
Stephan Durach received a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Karlsruhe. In January 1998, he launched his career at the BMW Group in software development. Before he moved to the USA in 2008, he headed the team for display control concepts. Leading magazine “Fast Company” voted Stephan Durach one of the “100 most creative people in business” in 2011 ( http://www.fastcompany.com/most-creative-people/2011/stephan-durach-bmw).
“Silicon Valley offers a unique environment for integrating new technologies into vehicles as fast as possible,” is how Dirk Rossberg evaluated his new working environment. “Where else can you find market-leaders from an immensely wide range of sectors, outstanding universities, innovative start-up companies, as well as venture capitalists and business analysts in such a small area? They empower us to identify the trends of tomorrow. I’m looking forward to addressing lots of exciting issues and working together with my highly committed team,” enthused the new leader of the Tech Office.
Dirk Rossberg received a degree in electrical engineering from Munich Technical University, majoring in gas and fluid sensors. He began his career at BMW in 1997. His most recent position involved heading the departments for driver assistance systems and infotainment platforms, where he succeeded in rolling out a large number of innovations in series production over a very short timeframe.
The BMW Group opened its Technology Office in Palo Alto, Silicon Valley in 1998. When the team moved to Mountain View and a bigger office complex in 2011, the BMW Group Technology Office USA gained many new opportunities for exploiting new technologies, including an autonomous infrastructure in electromobility.
Please find more about the Technology Office and current projects attached.