BMW Financial appoints Isele U.S. sales chief; Bugbee heads to Europe

BMW Group Financial Services veteran Fred Isele has been appointed vice president of sales and marketing effective June 1, with responsibility for the BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorcycles brands.

Isele, 54, has been president of Alphera Financial Services, the captive's subsidiary for financing non-BMW Group brands, since 2008. He joined BMW North America in 1990 and the captive in 2001. Isele continues to report to Ed Robinson, CEO of BMW Group Financial Services. Group headquarters are in Woodcliff Lake, N.J.

Isele succeeds Shaun Bugbee, 50, who is taking a job based at BMW world headquarters in Munich, according to a May 7 announcement. Bugbee has been in charge of sales operations for the U.S. company since 2008. He later added responsibility for marketing.

Bugbee's new title is head of new markets for Europe. In a phone interview last week, Bugbee said his territory extends from North Central Europe -- excluding Russia -- through the Middle East and North Africa.

Bugbee also reported to Robinson, but for the past few years Bugbee has been the most visible spokesman for the U.S. captive.

On Bugbee's watch, BMW Group Financial Services aggressively pursued high-tech tools such as paperless e-contracting and the use of mobile devices like iPads in dealerships to perform tasks such as processing lease returns. The captive also added a menu of BMW-branded F&I products.

In an interview last month Bugbee said that in addition to greater efficiency, the high-tech tools have a positive effect on dealer and customer satisfaction.

Steve Swecker, 54, was appointed Alphera president, also effective June 1. He was general manager of sales analytics for BMW Group Financial Services. He joined the company in 1995.

Michael van Bemmel, 51, was appointed general manager of sales analytics, effective July 1.