Bayerische Motoren Werke AG announced March 15 that it will reorganize its business divisions ahead of the departure of board member Peter Schwarzenbauer in order to create a "leaner, future-oriented structure."

Schwarzenbauer will leave the company in October, when he turns 60. Until the end of the first quarter, Schwarzenbauer will remain responsible for customer engagement and digital business innovation, as well as for the Mini, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad brands. From April 1 until October, he will promote the company's plan to focus on e-mobility, remaining part of BMW's management board.

"Over the last six years, Peter Schwarzenbauer has taken MINI and Rolls-Royce as well as BMW Motorrad to new heights and set important impulses in the fields of mobility services, digital services and customer engagement. We would like to thank him very much for that and have every confidence that his conviction and passion for electromobility will drive our transformation momentum and ensure the successful launch of the MINI Electric," said BMW CEO Harald Krüger in a statement.

As part of the restructuring, the BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brands will operate under a new central sales division led by Pieter Nota. Nota leads sales and brand for the BMW marque and aftersales for the wider BMW group, responsibilities he will maintain.

The BMW Motorrad brand will become part of the development division, which will continue to be led by Klaus Fröhlich. Both Nota and Fröhlich are members of the company's management board.

The changes are effective April 1.

"We are restructuring our divisions to give us the best possible foundation for the future. It sends out a clear signal that our organization is lean and efficient throughout the company," Krüger said.