Senior BMW exec defects to rival Audi

BMW is losing one of its senior executives, who has quit to join rival Audi as a board member. Ms. Hildegard Wortmann, 52, Senior Vice President in charge of BMW's Asia Pacific region, has been based in Singapore since last January. She led a team of four who were previously based in BMW's headquarters in Munich, Germany. When contacted, the Bavarian company said her successor had not yet been confirmed.

Ms. Wortmann will move on to a bigger role and a bigger group. She starts in July as Audi's board member for sales and marketing, a job based in Audi's headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany. Audi is part of the Volkswagen Group, which has 10 brands under it.

Ms. Wortmann, one of a few women to rise to top management in the male-dominated automotive industry, joined BMW in 1998. She had been involved in the launch of various products, including the Mini brand, and BMW's X and Z ranges.

The Audi position opened up when previous board member of sales and marketing Bram Schot was promoted to Chief Executive. The previous head, Rupert Stadler, was arrested and jailed last year for his role in Volkswagen's diesel-emissions scandal. Audi has since fired him. Mr. Schot said in a statement, "Audi is undergoing significant changes and we are now taking the next step. With Hildegard Wortmann on the board of management and together with the workforce, we are succeeding in transforming ourselves. On this challenging path to the future, she will play a decisive role."

Meanwhile, another former BMW Senior Executive has joined electric appliance maker Dyson to head its electric car venture. Mr. Roland Krueger, 53, a former Senior Vice President at the Bavarian group, was once stationed in Singapore as head of BMW Asia. He was most recently president of Infiniti - Nissan's luxury arm. With Dyson moving its headquarters here, Mr. Krueger is likely to return to Singapore - and chicken rice, which he has proclaimed to be his favourite local dish.

The Straits Times understands that Mr. Krueger was roped in to Dyson by board member Ian Robertson, another BMW veteran. Mr. Robertson, who has retired, had held top positions in the BMW Group, including sales and marketing roles, and as CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, which BMW owns.