[Mani59]

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Supervisory Board defines succession: Milan Nedeljković appointed new Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG

9th December 2025

• Oliver Zipse will leave the Board of Management after the Annual General Meeting in May 2026 as planned

• Nicolas Peter: „Nedeljković convinces with strategic foresight, strong implementation skills, and entrepreneurial thinking“

• Appreciation to Oliver Zipse: „Significant contribution to BMW“

Munich. Dr.-Ing. Milan Nedeljković will assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG effective on 14 May 2026. The company’s Supervisory Board took this decision today. Following the successful launch of the Neue Klasse, Nedeljković will succeed Oliver Zipse, who has been a member of the Board of Management of BMW AG for more than ten years and has served as its Chairman since August 2019. The Supervisory Board extends its sincere thanks to Oliver Zipse for his outstanding achievements for the BMW Group.

"Milan Nedeljković convinces with his strategic foresight, strong implementation skills, and entrepreneurial thinking. He stands for very focused management of resources—whether financial or ecological," said Dr. Nicolas Peter, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BMW AG. " Milan Nedeljković inspires people with ideas, unites them behind shared values, and thereby motivates them to realize peak performance. This is a crucial leadership quality to maintain the BMW Group’s successful course in this time of transformation."

In 2023, Oliver Zipse’s contract as Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG was extended beyond the usual retirement age until 2026. Subsequently, he will leave the Board of Management as planned after the Annual General Meeting on 13 May 2026, concluding a total of 35 years with the BMW Group.

"Oliver Zipse has made a significant contribution to the BMW Group and deserves our sincere gratitude. He has led BMW through global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and represents the Neue Klasse as the largest strategic project in the company’s history," said Peter. "Oliver Zipse has always prioritized BMW’s success. He consistently took a clear stance—even in the face of great external headwinds—and thus kept the company on track during turbulent times."

Milan Nedeljković, the designated Chairman of the Board of Management, has been a member of the Board of Management of BMW AG since 2019 and is currently responsible for the Production division. The 56-year-old began his professional career at BMW as a Trainee in 1993 and has accumulated extensive international experience. He has held senior leadership positions at Plant Oxford, as Managing Director Plant Leipzig and Munich and as Senior Vice President Corporate Quality. His contract as Chairman of the Board of Management will extend into 2031.

Dr. Martin Kimmich, Chairman of the Global Works Council and deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said: "Milan Nedeljković is held in high regard by and enjoys the trust of BMW’s workforce. Together with him, we look forward to continuing the long tradition of cooperative collaboration between the Works Council and corporate management as a foundation for our BMW success story."

[Phillies8008]

It's nice to see companies promote from within. I don't know much about BMW's job titles, but I'm assuming "Trainee" is an entry-level position, meaning that he's effectively spent his entire career with the company. He would've been 24 in 1993, so that makes sense to me. I think a lot of companies would be better off being led by people with extensive experience in that company, rather than hired-gun executives; seems to me they'd be more apt to take the long-term approach, rather than only living for this quarter. But what do I know?

[GOLFFRR]

nice, lets start 2026 off with a bang

[Janjohn]

I wish him the absolute best. It’s an especially tough job since BMW is a global company appealing to “hearts and minds” of drivers.

[Art__Vandelay]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

It's nice to see companies promote from within. I don't know much about BMW's job titles, but I'm assuming "Trainee" is an entry-level position, meaning that he's effectively spent his entire career with the company. He would've been 24 in 1993, so that makes sense to me. I think a lot of companies would be better off being led by people with extensive experience in that company, rather than hired-gun executives; seems to me they'd be more apt to take the long-term approach, rather than only living for this quarter. But what do I know?

Interestingly, predecessor Oliver Zipse also started as a trainee at BMW (in 1991) and both are engineers. So they have very similar career paths. Given Zipse's successful tenure as CEO, let's take this as a positive sign.

[maticCRO]

Ah, having a man from Balkans on top of the company is never a good thing hahaha
JK, hope he does some great things

[ultamte]

Why does the post title say "appointed as new BMW CEO" but the article only speaks to the fact he is appointed new "Chairman of the Board". Am I missing something, aren't those 2 roles separate?

[Phillies8008]

I think it's probably just a typo.

[cfm56d7b]

Milan Nedeljković is the 4th BMW executive who became a CEO after spending time as the Head of Production.

He will be facing very different automotive version of weather: geo politics, tariffs, and the core business model shipping goods between global regions under severe strain.

The highest tariffs BMW now pays are those imposed on the electric vehicle it builds in China shipped and sold in Europe.

BMW owns 75% the joint venture in China. So far, BMW sold 11% fewer vehicles in China, comparing 9 months in 2025 vs 9 months in 2024.

I wish Milan nothing short of success, starting with listening to what core customers want.

[Bimmerfun82]

The neue klasse is a good way to go out on top: a big bet that will sell extremely well and in my opinion eat into tesla share, resulting in significant growth. I’d guess 100k per year by 2027 comes from former Tesla owners alone. But they need to market the iX3 and hit the right price points!

[RAJENT]

The new CEO can hopefully put some sense into BMW engineers and designers on the design and styling choices they have been making lately on several models..

Hoping that BMW stops making cars that look like circus clowns

[vt100]

Originally Posted by RAJENT

The new CEO can hopefully put some sense into BMW engineers and designers on the design and styling choices they have been making lately on several models..

Hoping that BMW stops making cars that look like circus clowns

What are you talking about?! He is one of those engineers that were making these recent styling choices Why would he want to change that?!

[musicteacher]

Originally Posted by maticCRO

Ah, having a man from Balkans on top of the company is never a good thing hahaha
JK, hope he does some great things

No different than someone from Scandinavia leading Mercedes-Benz!

[Jolbex]

I propose we drop this subject because its on the limit of forums rules (no politics). The post of @maticCRO is easily understood here in the Balkans since CROatia and the new CEOs country (SRB) are all-time enemies...

[RAJENT]

Originally Posted by vt100

What are you talking about?! He is one of those engineers that were making these recent styling choices Why would he want to change that?!

Good point! I forgot that he is an insider

[brianeck]

Originally Posted by Janjohn

I wish him the absolute best. It’s an especially tough job since BMW is a global company that used to appeal to “hearts and minds” of drivers.

Fixed

[kudos]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

nice, lets start 2026 off with a bang

2026 will start off with the new 3 series unveiling so good luck

[FreudeamFahren18]

[QUOTE=maticCRO;32505078]Ah, having a man from Balkans on top of the company is never a good thing hahaha
JK, hope he does some great things

I was surprised too. Normally German companies only promote Germans in top leadership. He studied in Aachen and MIT.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by kudos

2026 will start off with the new 3 series unveiling so good luck

come on man, be optimistic!

[junx]

The question mark after his name in the title on the front page is hilarious

[Janjohn]

Originally Posted by brianeck

Fixed

Good catch. Since I’m from the Jurassic Age BMW isn’t pitching for my heart and mind. This last Sunday we were taking our X3 M50 around on some twisty roads in Sport Mode, and the balance and feel of that X3 is delightful.

What troubles me is the overall addiction of nearly every auto manufacturer to push electric. I guess BMW is trying to make the gasoline vehicles look closer to the electrics. As long as it has the purr and handling of the B58 on a BMW chassis and suspension, I’m a buyer.

[Chihuahua]

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