The BMW group has named Tim Abbott as the new BMW South Africa (BMW SA) MD.
Abbott is currently the MD of BMW Group UK, a post he has held since February 2009.
He is 57 years old, was educated at Loughborough University and is married with three children.
He has a keen interest in motorsport and golf, and a broad experience of the motor industry spanning both manufacturer and retail environments.
He first joined BMW in 1986 and held several positions in regional and national sales teams.
In 1996, Abbott left BMW to further his career, but rejoined BMW Group UK as sales director in 2006.
“Tim’s breadth of experience across the industry has proved to be a great asset in his current position and will stand him in good stead as he takes on responsibility for BMW SA,” said member of the management board of BMW and BMW SA chairperson Harald Krüger.
Abbott will take office in his new role on October 1.
He will work alongside incumbent MD Bodo Donauer until his planned retirement at the end of November.
BMW SA produces the BMW 3 Series at its plant in Rosslyn, near Pretoria, for the local and export markets.