BMW has announced a change in Mini management, with Stefan Richmann, currently head of corporate strategy, taking over as CEO. Richman's appointment comes as Stephanie Wurst, who has led Mini from 2022, prepares to step down.
Richman is scheduled to take up his new position on August 1. He boasts a wealth of experience gained from various senior positions at BMW since joining the company in 1997. In particular, he has served as Chief Financial Officer of BMW USA and held similar positions at BMW Spain.
Acknowledging Wurst's contribution, BMW appreciates her efforts in leading Mini through a period of significant transformation, including the expansion of the electric vehicle portfolio and the brand's entry into new market segments with models such as the Countryman compact crossover and Aceman small electric crossover.
It's worth noting that historically, the Mini CEO position has been characterized by a relatively short tenure, typically lasting around three years, before executives move on to other senior roles at BMW. Wurst succeeds Bernd Körber, who held the position for a similar length of time before taking on responsibilities within BMW's brand management and product divisions. Koerber, in turn, succeeded Sebastian Mackensen, who is currently CEO of BMW North America.