BMW names new chief for Mini
Fri, Jan 23 2015 Mini is still transitioning models over to its new platform, and in the US market at least, the diminutive brand is dealing with a sales decrease of 15.6 percent in 2014. The low gas prices aren't helping either. But as of March 1, there's a new boss running the company across the world as Sebastian Mackensen (right) is promoted to the top spot from his current role as head of sales.Mackensen has been with Mini since October 2013, and according to Automotive News, before that he headed North and South American sales for Audi.
Current brand boss, Jochen Goller is staying with BMW family and moving to China to take over as marketing chief for the BMW Brilliance joint venture. He had been the leader at Mini since 2013.
Among several other personnel shifts, the BMW brand is also promoting Uwe Dreher to be its new head of marketing. He is currently in charge of those duties for the company in the Great Britain region.
Personnel changes at MINI and BMW Group sales
Munich . From 1 March 2015, Peter van Binsbergen will be Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing of BMW Group Germany. The 47-year-old mechanical engineer is currently Head of Sales and Marketing at the BMW Brilliance Joint Venture based in China. Mr van Binsbergen's career with the BMW Group began over 20 years ago when he assumed senior positions responsible for product planning, marketing and sales at BMW South Africa. He then moved to BMW Japan, where he was Director of Marketing, followed by a move to BMW Group headquarters in Munich, where he led the department responsible for sales channel development and the Group's "Future Retail" programme.
Jochen Goller will move to China where he will take over an extended role with overall responsibility for Sales and Marketing at the BMW Brilliance Joint Venture in China. Mr Goller (48), who has headed up the MINI brand since 2013, already has experience when it comes to the Chinese market. During his 15-year career with the BMW Group, he was previously Head of Marketing at BMW China before returning to Europe, where he first took over responsibility for the MINI brand in Great Britain and Ireland ahead of moving to his current job.
From 1 March 2015, Sebastian Mackensen will take on responsibility for the MINI brand. Mr Mackensen (43) joined the BMW Group in October 2013 as Head of MINI Sales. Before that and following his studies in Business Administration, Mr Mackensen gained a broad range of sales experience in the premium automotive industry both in Germany and abroad.
Bernard Kuhnt will take on responsibility for the BMW Group's importer markets from 1 March 2015. The 47-year-old was previously in charge of European Sales at Jaguar Land Rover and has many years of experience in the global automotive industry. In his new position, he will be responsible for BMW Group sales in over 80 countries.
Within the central marketing division, Uwe Dreher will become Head of Marketing for the BMW brand and the BMW i and BMW M sub-brands with effect from 1 April 2015. The 40-year-old is currently in charge of BMW Marketing in Great Britain; before that he was responsible for the marketing communication of the introduction of the BMW i sub-brand and the launch of the BMW i3.
Munich . From 1 March 2015, Peter van Binsbergen will be Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing of BMW Group Germany. The 47-year-old mechanical engineer is currently Head of Sales and Marketing at the BMW Brilliance Joint Venture based in China. Mr van Binsbergen's career with the BMW Group began over 20 years ago when he assumed senior positions responsible for product planning, marketing and sales at BMW South Africa. He then moved to BMW Japan, where he was Director of Marketing, followed by a move to BMW Group headquarters in Munich, where he led the department responsible for sales channel development and the Group's "Future Retail" programme.
Jochen Goller will move to China where he will take over an extended role with overall responsibility for Sales and Marketing at the BMW Brilliance Joint Venture in China. Mr Goller (48), who has headed up the MINI brand since 2013, already has experience when it comes to the Chinese market. During his 15-year career with the BMW Group, he was previously Head of Marketing at BMW China before returning to Europe, where he first took over responsibility for the MINI brand in Great Britain and Ireland ahead of moving to his current job.
From 1 March 2015, Sebastian Mackensen will take on responsibility for the MINI brand. Mr Mackensen (43) joined the BMW Group in October 2013 as Head of MINI Sales. Before that and following his studies in Business Administration, Mr Mackensen gained a broad range of sales experience in the premium automotive industry both in Germany and abroad.
Bernard Kuhnt will take on responsibility for the BMW Group's importer markets from 1 March 2015. The 47-year-old was previously in charge of European Sales at Jaguar Land Rover and has many years of experience in the global automotive industry. In his new position, he will be responsible for BMW Group sales in over 80 countries.
Within the central marketing division, Uwe Dreher will become Head of Marketing for the BMW brand and the BMW i and BMW M sub-brands with effect from 1 April 2015. The 40-year-old is currently in charge of BMW Marketing in Great Britain; before that he was responsible for the marketing communication of the introduction of the BMW i sub-brand and the launch of the BMW i3.
- News Source: BMW, Automotive News - sub. req.
- Image Credit: Copyright 2015 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL, BMW
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By Chris Bruce
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