This is us

Meet our globally connected and diverse team
A proven innovator with a track record of success in engineering, entrepreneurship and automotive technology, Robert brings a unique perspective to our team.  
With experience ranging from software development for Siemens and Volkswagen,
several managing positions within BMW to founding and leading his own startups, Robert's expertise and entrepreneurial spirit will be instrumental in driving our mission of shaping the future of mobility forward.

Robert Hein

Head of BMW Startup Garage
During her Master’s studies in Mechanical Engineering, Alexandra co-founded a tech startup. At the BMW Group she developed a profound understanding of automotive industrialisation.

Alexandra Renner

Program Manager
Susann's extensive experience in product management at BMW has equipped her with strong communication skills and a deep understanding of the company's interconnected processes. She has been at the forefront of BMW's pioneering efforts, such as CleanEnergy and ConnectedDrive. With a solution-oriented mindset, Susann consistently seeks to empower the team to push the boundaries of innovation.

Susann Poppelreiter

Program Facilitator
Her strong purchasing background enables Melanie to improve the onboarding process for startups and to support them in becoming longterm suppliers for BMW. Furthermore, she is also responsible for communication and events organization.

Jia-Yi Melanie Tang

Marketing & Communication
With more than six years of experience in HR marketing and employer branding, Mirjam brings a wealth of knowledge in creating connections between people and organizations. In her new role, she will apply her expertise to marketing, communications and events, focusing on impactful storytelling and driving key initiatives forward. With her creativity and dedication, Mirjam aims to make a positive and lasting impact.

Mirjam Leiter

Marketing & Communication
As a mechanical engineer, Fabian applied his technical expertise in various positions within BMW. His broad experience in different research and development and purchasing-related functions has given him deep insights into the interconnected processes that drive BMW, with a strong focus on electric components and high-voltage batteries.

Fabian Bosch

Startup Lead, R&D
Daniela has a background in international business administration and extensive national and international expertise in areas such as aftersales, customer satisfaction management, business development, energy services, charging infrastructure, and mobility services.

Daniela Sprunk

Startup Lead, R&D
With a PhD in Operations Research and a background in Industrial Engineering, Christian combines his expertise in mechanical engineering, logistics, and software development to drive innovation within the BMW production system.

Christian Jaeck

Startup Lead, Production Systems
Johanna has a background in management and technology and has worked across various departments within BMW. Her experience within the company has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of its workings, enabling her to bring innovative IT solutions to the BMW Group.

Johanna Hinz

Startup Lead, Group IT Systems
Carmen, an accomplished architect, possesses exceptional skills in architectural design. With extensive international experience as a project lead, she has been instrumental in transforming initial concepts into realized environments. Carmen spearheads all real estate-related innovations and startup projects, with a particular focus on sustainability and digitization. She specializes in developing solutions for energy and CO2 reduction, as well as utilizing Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) materials.

Carmen Gargioni

Startup Lead, Real Estate Management
Timo's career spans more than two decades at BMW, where he has amassed considerable expertise in Lean Management, the implementation of innovations, and the enhancement of vocational training programs. His long-standing tenure has seen him play a pivotal role in the continuous improvement of processes and the integration of cutting-edge practices in the automotive industry. Currently, Timo is entrusted with the responsibility for driving innovations in the HR domain, where he applies his in-depth knowledge and experience to develop and refine strategies that align with the evolving needs of the workforce and the company.

Timo Puri

Startup Lead, HR
Stefan is skilled in business development, automotive engineering, continuous improvement and business strategy in various fields of automotive mobility. He developed a deep understanding of the Japanese startup environment and local automotive industry.

Stefan Lutz

Head of Technology Office, Israel
Lior Swissa is an innovator in automotive and software, with expertise from roles at GM, Lytx, and Microsoft. Specializing in safety, sensors, and cybersecurity, she leverages cutting-edge technologies to deliver impactful business outcomes and enhance driving experiences. With global experience—including time in China and collaborations across continents—Lior bridges Israeli innovation with BMW Group’s vision.

Lior Swissa

Startup Lead, Israel
Marc has gained extensive experience working in research, technology scouting, and innovation management in Germany, Japan, and Israel. He is now located in Shanghai,China, covering interesting technologies and companies from the Chinese market. Personally, Marc is passionate about enabler technologies for new user experiences and AI based features.

Marc Hofmann

Head of Technology Office, China
Yukki with strong background of various IT system design and buildup projects, and has rich experience in digital related solution. She developed a deep understanding of startups environment in China.

Yukki You

Startup Lead IT, China
Julian gained extensive experience in business development and innovation management in Asian markets and is an expert on the Korean automotive industry and startup ecosystem.

Julian Klaus

Head of Technology Office, Korea
After working in the Silicon Valley and having founded his own company, Bernhard is very familiar with the startup culture. On top of that, with his 20+ years’ experience in the automotive industry and an engineering degree in Precision Engineering and Microsystems, he brings strong technical expertise to the team.

Bernhard Schambeck

Head of Technology Office, Japan
Brooke is an IT Innovation Strategist for the IT Tech Office Americas. She has been with the BMW Group since 2011 with a background in Data & Analytics. Brooke has a passion for delivery within emerging technologies while ensuring a focus on business value and remaining customer centric. Working closely with the IT Tech Office team, she is focused on planning, organizing, and implementing a roadmap for innovation ideas and moving concepts into reality within the Americas Region.

Brooke Rennison

Startup Lead IT, Americas
With a background in Management & Technology and a passion for driving innovation, Timo has been part of the BMW Group since 2019. Having gained diverse experience across development, marketing, idea management, and digital design in the automotive industry, he brings a dynamic and fresh perspective to the team. Young, energetic, and dedicated to advancing new ideas, Timo is committed to shaping the future of mobility through creativity and collaboration.

Timo Berndt

Startup Lead IT, Americas

Our team forms a worldwide network

and you have the possibility to offer your solution on a global level
Worldmap
  • Mountain View
  • Munich
  • Tel Aviv
  • Shanghai
  • Seoul
  • Tokyo