BMW’s Supervisory Board has appointed Dorothea von Boxberg to the Board of Management of BMW AG, effective 1 September, where she will lead Human Resources as Labour Relations Director. The current Brussels Airlines chief executive succeeds Ilka Horstmeier, who is handing over the People and Real Estate portfolio early. BMW frames the move as a bid to strengthen its leadership as the industry navigates a demanding transformation.

The Supervisory Board of BMW AG has appointed Dorothea von Boxberg (52) to the company’s Board of Management, effective 1 September, and named her Labour Relations Director. She takes over responsibility for Human Resources from Ilka Horstmeier (57), who is stepping down from the board role covering People and Real Estate.

According to the company, Horstmeier is handing over her position in agreement with the Supervisory Board as part of an early, planned succession. She had helped shape BMW’s Human Resources function and, in the company’s words, contributed to BMW being seen as one of Germany’s most attractive employers.

An outside-in appointment

Von Boxberg joins from outside the automotive sector. She is currently Chief Executive Officer of Brussels Airlines and previously held several leadership roles at Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Lufthansa Cargo AG, including Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the cargo business. She studied industrial engineering and business administration in Berlin and Paris and spent several years in management consulting.

Supervisory Board Chairman Dr. Nicolas Peter said her background combines transformation experience with a fresh perspective on the car industry.

“Dorothea von Boxberg not only brings extensive experience in implementing transformation processes, but also an outside-in perspective on our industry. At the same time, her technical background makes her an excellent fit for the BMW Group,” said Peter.

Peter also thanked Horstmeier, saying she had “provided decisive impulses” for the company’s HR function, and wished her well for the future.

What it means

The appointment lands as carmakers reshape their organisations around electrification, software and shifting global demand. Dr. Milan Nedeljković, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said the group “faces new challenges that require consistent adjustment of our structures and ways of working,” and expressed confidence that von Boxberg would help address them.

Bringing in an executive from aviation, rather than promoting from within the automotive ranks, signals that BMW wants outside experience in steering the cultural and structural change it says lies ahead. Martin Kimmich, Chairman of the BMW Group General Works Council, thanked Horstmeier for years of “trusting and constructive collaboration” and welcomed von Boxberg as an experienced leader with a track record in transformation.

BMW reported sales of 2.46 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,500 motorcycles in 2025, with a workforce of 154,540 employees as of 31 December 2025.

Von Boxberg takes up her new role on 1 September.

Source: www.press.bmwgroup.com