Norbert Reithofer
Encyclopedia
Dr.-Ing. Norbert Reithofer (born 29 May 1956 in Penzberg
, Germany) is a businessman and current CEO of BMW AG as well as Chairman of the Board of Management.
he graduated in Mechanical Engineering
at the Munich University of Applied Sciences
in Munich
. He then moved on to the Technical University Munich to study Production Engineering
and Business Administration. After graduation he became Research Assistant at the university at the Institute for Machine Tools and Business Administration of Joachim Milberg
, under whom he gained his Doctorate
.
In 1987 he joined BMW as head of maintenance planning. From 1991 to 1994 he was Director of the Body in White
Production Division. From 1994 to 1997 Reithofer then became Technical Director of BMW South Africa. From 1997 to 2000, Reithofer was President BMW Manufacturing Corporation (USA), based in Spartanburg, South Carolina
.
In March 2000 he returned to Munich to join the BMW Board of Management, responsible for production. In 2002, Reithofer and Development Chief Burkhard Goeschel halved the standard BMW time it took to reach full production of the new generation E90 3 Series
, from six months to three.
On 1 September, 2006 he succeeded Helmut Panke
as Chairman of the Board and CEO of BMW.
Penzberg
Penzberg is a town in the Weilheim-Schongau district, in Bavaria, Germany. It is located near Munich, and had a population of 16,126 in 2005. A historic coal mining town, Penzberg today is known for its pharmaceutical industries.-History:...
, Germany) is a businessman and current CEO of BMW AG as well as Chairman of the Board of Management.
Biography
After finishing his FachabiturAbitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
he graduated in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
at the Munich University of Applied Sciences
Munich University of Applied Sciences
The Munich University of Applied Sciences, was founded in 1971 and is the largest University of Applied Sciences in Bavaria with about 14,000 students.-Organisation:...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. He then moved on to the Technical University Munich to study Production Engineering
Production engineering
Production engineering is a combination of manufacturing technology with management science. A production engineer typically has a wide knowledge of engineering practices and is aware of the management challenges related to production...
and Business Administration. After graduation he became Research Assistant at the university at the Institute for Machine Tools and Business Administration of Joachim Milberg
Joachim Milberg
Joachim Milberg is a German Professor of Production Engineering and past CEO of BMW AG. He is now Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BMW AG....
, under whom he gained his Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
.
In 1987 he joined BMW as head of maintenance planning. From 1991 to 1994 he was Director of the Body in White
Body in White
Body in white or BIW refers to the stage in automotive design or automobile manufacturing in which a car body's sheet metal components have been welded together — but before moving parts the motor, chassis sub-assemblies, or trim have been added and before painting.The name...
Production Division. From 1994 to 1997 Reithofer then became Technical Director of BMW South Africa. From 1997 to 2000, Reithofer was President BMW Manufacturing Corporation (USA), based in Spartanburg, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
In March 2000 he returned to Munich to join the BMW Board of Management, responsible for production. In 2002, Reithofer and Development Chief Burkhard Goeschel halved the standard BMW time it took to reach full production of the new generation E90 3 Series
BMW E90
The saloon model was the first model sold of the 5th generation BMW 3 series. Debuting in the US in 2006, the E90 came in two trims, the 325i/xi and 330i/xi models...
, from six months to three.
On 1 September, 2006 he succeeded Helmut Panke
Helmut Panke
Helmut G.W. Panke served as chairman of the board at BMW AG from May 2002 through August 2006.-Education:...
as Chairman of the Board and CEO of BMW.
Awards and Honours
- 2005: Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold (Grosses Goldenes Ehrenzeichen) for Services to the Republic of Austria
- 2010: Bayerischen Verdienstorden
External links
- Pen Picture at BMW Group
- Interview with Autoweek on gaining CEO's position
- German Wikipedia bio of Reithofer