BMW GROUP SOUTH AFRICA APPOINTS DEENA GOVENDER AS NEW HEAD OF PRODUCT COMMUNICATIONS

Midrand.  BMW Group South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa today announced the appointment of Deena Govender as the new Head of Product Communications.  He will also take responsibility for overall steering, as operational lead, the Corporate Communications and Government Affairs for BMW Group South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa, until further notice. A BMW veteran who has been with the group for 20 years, he has vast experience in various divisions across the company and the auto manufacturing sector as a whole.

On 1 August, Mr Govender will move on from his current role as Head of Retail Network Strategy, Planning and Consulting for South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa to assume his new role.

Mr Govender joined the company in 2001, after completing his Master’s Degree in Engineering, and has filled various positions in Engineering Development, Production, Sales & Marketing, Customer Relations and Retail Network Development at BMW Group Germany and South Africa. The unique insights and experiences he has been exposed to in these positions will prove valuable in his new role.

Having worked on BMW's hybrid-electric vehicles engineering development projects and having served as the BMW i Market Manager in South Africa during the launch of BMW i,  electro- and future mobility is one of his key areas of expertise and interest. Deena plans to use his wealth of expertise to drive success for BMW Group South Africa and the rest of the country.

He expressed his excitement at the appointment, “I am honoured to take on the new role and am looking forward to engaging with all our stakeholders. I have had the privilege of working in a number of positions across the business, and have been able to learn from each. These lessons, combined with great relationships within the BMW Group, will enable me to fulfil my duties in the years ahead. Likewise, I will rely on my colleagues’ market knowledge and expertise to make the most of the opportunities along the way.” 

Aligned to the BMW Group’s global approach and CEO Peter van Binsbergen’s vision, navigating the pandemic and ensuring business continuity will remain top of mind for the South African team. This calls for new levels of flexibility and collaboration, striving to deliver a world-class experience to all stakeholders. 

Under the leadership and guidance of Mr van Binsbergen, Mr Govender’s appointment will bolster BMW Group South Africa as they further extend their segment leadership and continue to positively impact communities through CSI programmes under the umbrella of “We Build More Than Just Cars”. 

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If you have any queries regarding this press release, please contact:  

BMW South Africa Group Communications:  

Mr. Arnold Tshimanga

BMW Group South Africa (Pty) Ltd 

Corporate Communications 

Mobile No: +27-74-807-5262 

E-Mail: Arnold.tshimanga@partner.bmw.co.za

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2020, the BMW Group sold over 2.3 million passenger vehicles and more than 169,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2020 was € 5.222 billion on revenues amounting to € 98.990 billion. As of 31 December 2020, the BMW Group had a workforce of 120,726 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.