Robertson has spent his entire career in the motor industry, initially with Rover and Land Rover. In 1999 he was appointed managing director of BMW South Africa, where the business quadrupled in size under his tenure. He joined Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in February 2005 as Chairman and Chief Executive, directing the company through two new product launches and more than a 25 per cent increase in sales. Latterly he has lead his team in the launch preparations of a new model series.
Robertson will retain his current role at Rolls-Royce until a successor is appointed. He is the first British person to sit on the Board of Management in the history of BMW.
"I am delighted and honoured by this appointment," said Robertson. "It is a recognition of the success of Rolls-Royce in the last few years and I am pleased that my relationship with the outstanding team at Goodwood, and around the world, will continue for the time being."
Stefan Krause leaves BMW AG to take up a new post on the Board of Management of Deutsche Bank.