Oliver Zipse

Oliver Zipse serves as Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO) of BMW AG since August 16, 2019, leading one of the world's most prestigious automotive companies through a transformative period toward electric mobility and sustainable manufacturing. Born February 7, 1964, in Heidelberg, Germany, Zipse exemplifies the modern automotive executive who combines deep manufacturing expertise with strategic vision for the future of mobility. With a comprehensive educational foundation including a mechanical engineering degree from Technische Universität Darmstadt (1991) and an Executive MBA from the prestigious Kellogg-WHU program (1999), Zipse brings both technical excellence and strategic business acumen to BMW's leadership. His career trajectory at BMW spans over three decades, having joined the company in 1991 as a trainee and methodically progressed through key positions in development, technical planning, and production. Zipse's manufacturing expertise became evident during his tenure as Managing Director of MINI Plant Oxford (2007-2008) and his subsequent roles as Senior Vice President of Technical Planning and Global Corporate Planning. Appointed to BMW's Board of Management in May 2015 with responsibility for worldwide production, he successfully expanded BMW's global production network across Hungary, China, and the United States, delivering industry-leading profit margins through operational excellence. As CEO, Zipse champions BMW's technology-open approach to electrification, balancing electric vehicle development with strategic flexibility across multiple powertrains including internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and future hydrogen solutions. His leadership philosophy emphasizes sustainable premium mobility, with ambitious targets to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% per vehicle by 2030 and achieve more than seven million electrified BMW vehicles on roads within the decade. Under his guidance, BMW is pioneering the revolutionary NEUE KLASSE platform, representing the company's most comprehensive transformation toward electric and digital mobility while maintaining its position as the world's leading premium automotive manufacturer.