Bloomberg reports on BMW’s alleged plans to hire Peter Schwarzenbauer, the former Audi AG sales chief. In an effort to maintains its lead in the premium segment, BMW is offering Schwarzenbauer a top-level management job reporting directly to BMW CEO, Norbert Reithofer.
BMW’s supervisory board will probably discuss the appointment tomorrow, sources told Bloomberg.
Schwarzenbauer, Audi’s sales chief for more than four years, led the brand’s expansion by raising its U.S. presence, boosting sales in China and gaining market share in Europe. He left in August as part of a broader management reshuffle by parent Volkswagen AG.
In his first year on the job, Audi sold over 1 million cars. By 2012 that number rose to 1.46 million.
VW CEO Martin Winterkorn told reporters last June during a press conference in Stuttgart that Schwarzenbauer would leave Audi, without elaborating on the reason for his departure.
This is not his first venture at BMW. Schwarzenbauer joined the Bavarian brand first in 1984 and held several positions within the marketing and sales department. Ten years later he left BMW for Porsche and became CEO in 2003. Five years later he joins the management board at Audi.
