MUNICH -- BMW Group has hired Peter Schwarzenbauer, the former Audi sales chief, as part of an effort to tighten its grip on the premium segment's top spot. Schwarzenbauer, 53, will be the board member in charge of Mini, Rolls-Royce, BMW motorcycles and group aftersales.
Schwarzenbauer ran Audi's sales and marketing for more than four years. He succeeds Harald Krueger, 47, who will take over as BMW's head of production from Frank-Peter Arndt, 57, who is leaving the automaker due to health reasons, BMW said today in a statement. The changes take effect April 1.