All change at BMW: German firm announces new motorcycling boss and head of design

Despite smashing recent sales records, and already announcing a roster of new motorcycles for 2024, BMW’s Motorrad division have now confirmed a series of shock key personnel changes at the top of the tree.

Following 32 years at the company, 60-year-old Markus Schramm will step into retirement and away from his role as Head of BMW Motorrad. He has held the position since 2018 and led the firm to record sales of 202,895 in 2022,

What’s more, BMW’s celebrated Head of Design, 65-year-old Edgar Heinrich, also recently announced his retirement after joining the brand in 1985. Schramm will be succeeded on November 1 by Markus Flasch, who joined BMW in 2015 and was most recently appointed as Product Line Manager and before that Head of BMW’s sporting M division.

Heinrich, meanwhile, who was responsible for the design of all BMW two wheelers, riding equipment, and accessories, will be succeeded by Alexander Buckan on January 1. He joined BMW as a designer back in 2003 and has worked alongside Heinrich since 2015.

During his time at BMW Heinrich led the design of some of the German marque’s most significant models. The R1100S sportster, as-well-as the K1200R naked bike, and 2013 R1200GS were all created under his leadership, and he was also involved in developing the exclusive HP models, electric scooters, and ground-breaking Vision Next 100 design concept.

Since 2015, when he was promoted to work alongside Heinrich, Buckan has also worked on the Vision Next 100, plus the CE 04 and CE 02 electric scooters, as well as the new R1300GS – which has divided opinion with its departure from the traditional bulky GS styling.

Head of BMW Group Design, Adrian van Hooydonk, said: “With his creativity and passion for BMW Motorrad, Edgar Heinrich has shaped the brand like no one else.

“Under his leadership, BMW Motorrad design has been significantly broadened, modernised and, above all, made more emotional.”