BMW Of North America Announces Executive Management Changes

Jim O'Donnell has been with the BMW Group for 17 years. He currently holds the position of Managing Director of BMW (UK) Ltd. Prior to that he worked as Sales and Marketing Director of BMW South Africa and Sales Director of BMW (UK) Ltd. Before joining BMW Group, Jim held various positions at Ford Motor Company. Jim has a LLB in Scots Law from the University of Glasgow and is a qualified Member of the Institute of Management Accountants. He is married with two children.

In his new function, Jim O'Donnell will report to Tom Purves who will remain Chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp. and Chairman of BMW NA's Management Board. Tom Purves also remains the Regional Manager for the Americas.

This appointment strengthens the BMW Group management team in the USA and will provide a stronger coordination of sales and marketing activities in the most important market for the BMW Group worldwide.

Jim O'Donnell takes over functional responsibility for US activities, having established a great record of success at BMW (UK) Ltd. during the past eight years. Under his leadership, sales of BMW vehicles have risen from 67,676 in 2000 to 121,575 in 2007. Sales of MINI in the same period have grown to 47,661 (MINI was launched in 2001) while motorcycle sales are up from 2,745 to 5,251.

Howard Mosher, who retires on March 31, has held the position as VP-Operations for BMW of North America, LLC, since May 2005. During this time he has made outstanding contributions to the success of the BMW Group in the US. Howard Mosher is a veteran of the automotive industry, with more than 30 years of experience. Before joining BMW NA, he held the position of Director of Worldwide Sales and Marketing for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Ltd.

Photo: BMW

(February 8, 2008)