Markus Duesmann to become BMW AG Board member for purchasing

At its meeting today, the Supervisory Board of BMW AG appointed Markus Duesmann as the new Board of Management Member for Purchasing and Supplier Network. Effective 1 October 2016, Duesmann (47) will take over from Dr. Klaus Draeger (59), who will retire from the Board of Management upon reaching the legal retirement age.

Mechanical engineer Markus Duesmann joined the BMW Group in 2007 as head of Powertrain for the former BMW Sauber Formula One team. He went on to become head of Driving Dynamics and was most recently responsible for the topic of powertrains in its entirety in the company’s development division.

After earning a degree in mechanical engineering, Klaus Draeger began his career with the BMW Group back in 1985 as a trainee. He has been a member of the Board of Management since 2006, with responsibility for the Development division until 2012. Since then, he has headed the Purchasing and Supplier Network division.

“With Markus Duesmann, we are placing responsibility for the Purchasing division in the hands of a recognised specialist and leader. This puts us in an excellent position to continue the success of the BMW Group,” said Dr. Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the Supervisory Board of BMW AG. Reithofer continued: “I would like to thank Klaus Draeger for his successful service to the BMW Group over more than 30 years. As Board of Management Member for Development, his achievements include promoting Efficient Dynamics and digital connectivity across the product line-up. At the same time, he consistently implemented electrification under the BMW i umbrella.

His time as Board of Management Member for Purchasing has been characterised by close and collaborative partnership with suppliers on an equal footing. He paved the way for the division’s forward-looking purchasing policy, focusing equally on innovation, quality and flexibility, as well as cost considerations.”