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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Media Information

TOM PURVES APPOINTED CEO

22 April 2008, Goodwood

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars today announced that Tom Purves will join the company as its Chief Executive Officer.  He will take up his new position in July, following the recent appointment of Ian Robertson to the BMW AG Board of Management. Robertson will remain Chairman of Rolls-Royce.

Purves is currently Chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp., a position he has held since May 1999. He is also president of BMW of North America, LLC. He has led the company to achieve groundbreaking success, with market share and sales of BMW Group vehicles more than doubling during his tenure.  In addition, Purves was responsible for the successful launch of MINI in North America.

He has spent his whole working life in the automotive industry, beginning with Rolls-Royce as an apprentice engineer at Crewe in 1967.  His role with the company evolved to include several management positions in various fields including sales in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Purves joined the BMW Group in 1985 as Sales Director of BMW (GB) Ltd in Great Britain and was appointed Managing Director in 1989.  During his tenure, the company became the second largest BMW export market after the USA. In 1996 he became a Rover Board member, where he oversaw the global sales and marketing of Land Rover, MINI, MG and Rover before his move to North America.

“It has been a pleasure to see Rolls-Royce flourish under the ownership of BMW Group,” Purves commented. “I am delighted to be taking the helm at Goodwood as the company continues to develop with the upcoming launch of the Phantom Coupé and, most significantly, the introduction of RR4 in 2010. I have always felt a special connection with Rolls-Royce, having started my career in the car division.”

Ian Robertson said, “Tom’s breadth of experience and successful track record make him the perfect man to lead Rolls-Royce as the company moves into the next stages of its development.”

Purves’ role in America will be taken over by Jim O’Donnell, who was recently appointed President of BMW North America and will now assume the position of Chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp.

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Notes to Editors

1. CV for Tom Purves is available from our PressClub – see below for details.
2. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars saw sales in 2007 increase by 25 per cent, compared to 2006, with retails of 1010 cars. This is the first time that annual sales have reached four figures and the fourth successive sales increase since the company was launched in 2003.

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