BMW has announced that Tom Purves will become the new CEO of Rolls-Royce , effective July 1st. Purves, 59, will be taking over the position from Ian Robertson, who in turn will be taking over Stefan Krausewill’s position as head of BMW’s sales and marketing.
Purves actually started his career with Rolls-Royce as an apprentice engineer, and most recently headed up BMW’s North American sales subsidiary. According to Automotive News, Purves joined BMW in 1985 and ran Land Rover , Mini, MG and Rover before taking his position in North America in 1999.
Purves will reach BMW ’s mandatory retirement age of 60 in November, but it remains unclear if the retirement age was fully responsible for the move. Rolls-Royce has no such mandatory retirement age.
