Former Rover trainee to run BMW’s Coleshill engine plant
A WARWICKSHIRE-born former Austin Rover trainee is to take charge at BMW’s engine plant at Coleshill.
Nick Spencer, 48, replaces Dr Mathias Hoffman as Plant Director at the company’s Hams Hall engine plant next month. Dr Hofmann is to take up a position with BMW Group in China.
The announcement came as the Munich-based manufacturer said September had seen an 11% improvement in international sales, year-on-year.
Mr Spencer, currently director of supply chain management in BMW’s manufacturing operation, has worked in the automotive industry spanning 25 years. He joined Austin Rover Group in 1986 as a graduate trainee, taking roles in the field of vehicle electrical and electronic systems development, before moving on to senior positions in engine management and vehicle information and entertainment systems. Transferring to Munich in 1999, he held senior management positions in both the engineering and purchasing functions, returning to the UK in 2008.
Mr Spencer, who is married with one son, grew up in Warwickshire just 10 miles from the plant.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Hams Hall plant supplies power units for both the BMW and MINI brands. The plant recorded record production volumes of 385,000 engines in 2010.
The car maker said global sales last month of 159,214 units across BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands automobiles helped it achieve its most successful third quarter ever.
It also said it had seen its best first nine months, with sales up 16% to 1,232,584 vehicles.
BMW board member Ian Robertson said: “Throughout the fourth quarter we will continue to strive for a worldwide balanced growth and to continue our upward trend. We have exceptional new products such as the new BMW 1 Series and the MINI Coupé, which are already in strong demand and which will provide further momentum.”
