BMW Group Canada announces new President and CEO.
Argentinean Eduardo Villaverde to arrive September 1, 2011.
RICHMOND HILL, ON, June 30, 2011 /CNW/ - BMW Group Canada today announced the appointment of Eduardo Villaverde to the position of president and CEO, effective September 1, 2011. Villaverde replaces Manfred Braunl who has left the BMW Group.
Villaverde joins BMW's Canadian subsidiary from BMW Group Spain, where he has been president and CEO since August, 2008. He began his career with the BMW Group in 1995, when he joined BMW de Latinoamérica S.A. as Director and CFO. In 1999, Villaverde moved to BMW do Brasil Ltda., where he was responsible for both the BMW and Land Rover brands as president and CEO. He then headed BMW Group Argentina and BMW Group Central and South America respectively before joining BMW Group Spain in 2008.
"Eduardo brings with him over two decades of leadership experience," said Jim O'Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. "We look forward to seeing him apply these leadership skills in the Canadian market as we work to increase our sales volumes and launch a new global sub-brand."
BMW Group Canada
BMW Group Canada, based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of BMW AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW
luxury performance automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles,
and MINI. BMW Group Financial Services Canada is a division of BMW
Group Canada and offers retail financing and leasing programs and
protection products on new and pre-owned BMW and MINI automobiles, as
well as retail financing for new and pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total
network of 43 BMW automobile retail centres, 20 BMW motorcycle
retailers, and 28 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the
country.
BMW Group
The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles
and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands.
As a global company, the BMW Group operates 24 production facilities in
13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
During the financial year 2010, the BMW Group sold 1.46 million cars and more than 110,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for 2010 was euro 4.8 billion on revenues amounting to euro 60.5 billion. At 31 December 2010, the BMW Group had a workforce of approximately 95,500 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last six years.
For further information:
Barb Pitblado, Director, Corporate Communications
BMW Group Canada
Office: 905-428-5005 / Cell: 416-627-0436 / Email: barb.pitblado@bmwgroup.ca