Rolls-Royce chief Ian Robertson to join BMW board
17 Mar 2008
Luxury car maker Rolls-Royce Motor Cars' chairman and chief executive, Ian Robertson, has been appointed as sales and marketing director of the BMW AG board of management with immediate effect.
He replaces Stefan Krause who will join Deutsche Bank as chief financial officer (CFO), BMW reported.
Robertson, former head of BMW's operations in South Africa, is the first Briton to join the German auto maker's board of directors.
During 2004, the sales of the Rolls-Royce Phantom fell short of expectations, which led to a management crisis in the company, the year after it Rolls Royce was created as a new company in 2003.
Robertson was appointed to head the Rolls-Royce subsidiary of BMW. Under him, the sales volume of the newly launched convertible Phantom Drophead Coupe rose to more than 1,000 in 2007.
Rolls-Royce also launched a hardtop coupe at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, last week.
Robertson will retain his current role at Rolls-Royce until a successor is appointed.