[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

Willisch Named New President of BMW of North America

16
COMMENTS

Tweet

Willisch new president of BMW of North America

26.07.2011

Jim O’Donnell will be retiring

Munich/Woodcliff Lake. Ludwig Willisch (55), currently responsible for the BMW Group’s European sales region, will take over from Jim O’Donnell (61) as president of BMW of North America, effective October 1st, 2011. Willisch, who holds a degree in economics, began his career with the BMW Group in 1996 as manager of the BMW branch in Düsseldorf. He gained further national and international sales experience as head of the local sales subsidiaries in Germany, Japan and Sweden. Prior to assuming his current position as head of European sales, Willisch was president of BMW M GmbH.

O’Donnell, who has managed the BMW Group’s North American sales since 2008, will be retiring. The BMW Group achieved a substantial increase in sales on the U.S. market in the first half of the year. A total of 143,974 vehicles (+18.1% year-on-year) were sold in the U.S. through June, making the region the BMW Group’s second-largest market in the first half of 2011. Last year, the company delivered 266,580 automobiles to U.S. customers – an increase of 10.1%.

Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management, responsible for Sales and Marketing at BMW AG: “I would like to thank Jim O’Donnell for his tireless commitment during his successful career. I would also like to wish Ludwig Willisch every success. With his many years of solid experience in the automobile business, I am confident that he will maintain our successful course in the U.S. in the future.”

A successor to Willisch for the BMW Group’s European sales region will be announced at a later date.

[Spartikus]

I remember BMW retires most executives at 60yrs old. I'm surprised he went past 60.

[Crimson92]

holy sideburns batman

[SCOTT26]

The move is going to be hugely beneficial for BMW North America.
Because Ludwig Willisch is somebody who likes to take risks. And let me tell you now. Some enthusiasts are not going to like it because he will push BMW North America in a new direction , some say the direction the US Market needs to keep BMW as the leading luxury manufacturer in the US.

BMW North America is not just about BMW M.
That means US market will see expanded product lines which also means BMW FWD models ,Sustainable powertrains and four cylinders and expanded diesel engines to meet forthcoming legislation.

It is time to make the market conform rather than just sitting back and taking flack from the media and doing nothing about it.

[atopa2002]

^^ +1 and bring over the goodies that europe gets like the csl and the m sport suspension, etc, etc.

[drjoe66]

I certainly hope we will see a 2 liter turbodiesel 1 series in the us. I would buy one as a commuter tomorrow.

[wisesoul]

FWD BMW?? Please oh god no. Never thought I'd see FWD and BMW mentioned in the same sentence

[Zirenz2006]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The move is going to be hugely beneficial for BMW North America.
Because Ludwig Willisch is somebody who likes to take risks. And let me tell you now. Some enthusiasts are not going to like it because he will push BMW North America in a new direction , some say the direction the US Market needs to keep BMW as the leading luxury manufacturer in the US.

BMW North America is not just about BMW M.
That means US market will see expanded product lines which also means BMW FWD models ,Sustainable powertrains and four cylinders and expanded diesel engines to meet forthcoming legislation.

It is time to make the market conform rather than just sitting back and taking flack from the media and doing nothing about it.

Bring the 1 hatch over here, I want one

[pmeloche]

We need more diesel models and we need the 1 Series Hatchback to replace the atrocity that is the 1 Series Coupe.

[XC]

I like his 60's hairdo looks

[BobsM3Coupe]

Hmmm? I hope I'm wrong, but this guy sounds like a bean counter. That would mean nothing but trouble.

[SCOTT26]

http://www.bnet.com/blog/electric-ca...t-sip-gas/4781

[MCMLXXXIX]

I dont really understand the idea of offering FWD. Enthusiasts love RWD, but do non-enthusiasts really care? whats so "good" about it?

[mofbb]

hope this guys can fix the hpfp problems

[MrRager]

if BMW starts making FWD models, ill have to consider them a sellout, and move on to another brand.

[ANTE92]

dont like the whole fwd idea