Media Information

27 February 2008

BMW UK corporate communications team announces industry’s first dedicated new media PR role

• Duncan Forrester becomes BMW UK’s New Media Public Relations Manager
  
• Natalie Wakefield returns to Group Communications from maternity leave
  
• Martin Harrison returns to co-ordinate BMW and MINI press fleets

The BMW corporate communications team is set to expand on 31 March with the appointment of Duncan Forrester as the UK automotive industry’s first dedicated new media PR professional.

Soon after (21 April), Natalie Wakefield will be returning to her group communications position following maternity leave.  Martin Harrison therefore returns to his press fleet co-ordination role in April, with Sarah Lovegrove returning to BMW Financial Services.   

Forrester’s appointment follows a thorough search for an experienced PR professional able to combine both BMW and MINI’s corporate cultures into the fast-paced and ever-changing world of new media.  The search took advice from external digital and online experts, online media, and BMW and MINI managers within the BMW UK business.  Forrester’s five years as BMW Media Relations Manager, combined with previous experience within the dealer network and of setting up an internal communications network for BMW UK and its dealers, made him an ideal candidate for the role.

He will report to Mark Harrison, BMW UK’s Corporate Communications Manager who said:  “Based on research that showed our customers are now influenced as much by online as traditional print media, we felt that it was vital to dedicate resource to the online media environment.  Conversations with various website editors and bloggers also confirmed that there is an ever-growing demand for online material and support from BMW and MINI.  It is a great opportunity for us to take this initiative and support the online community, media, our customers and prospects.”

The role will work closely with various divisions within BMW and MINI UK’s marketing departments as well as support the company’s traditional PR operation.  It will also interact with other BMW and MINI markets due to the global nature of online communications.

Further changes within the BMW UK corporate communications team see Natalie Wakefield return from maternity leave as Group Communications Executive, reporting to Group Communications Manager, Angela Stangroom.

The Group Communications roles promote BMW Group’s global corporate activities and the business and influence of the BMW Group in the UK through its 150 dealerships, manufacturing plants in Hams Hall, Oxford and Swindon, BMW Group Academy UK training facility near Reading, and the BMW (UK) Ltd headquarters in Bracknell.

Martin Harrison, who is currently seconded to the Group Communications Executive role, will return ‘home’ to become Press Fleet Co-ordinator on 21 April.  Accordingly, Sarah Lovegrove will return to BMW Financial Services.  Martin Harrison will again report into Mark Harrison who said:  “We are sorry to lose Sarah after she has supported us so well. She enjoyed her time with us, and with the UK motoring media, and did some fine work behind-the-scenes that will enable Martin to step back into a new, improved press fleet set-up.  We wish her all the best in her future career.”

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For further information please contact:

The BMW media website, called Pressclub, contains all BMW press releases, press packs and a selection of company information as well as high resolution, downloadable photographs. You will need to register at the site to gain full access.

www.press.bmwgroup.com

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