Rolls-Royce Chairman unexpectedly rolls out of town

Tony Gott has handed in his resignation as Chairman and CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Ltd., with BMW officials citing “personal reasons” as a catalyst, quashing any rumors that RR’s parent company BMW AG may have asked Gott to step down. Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, the director of RR’s worldwide marketing, will step in. One issue which may or may not have anything to do with Gott’s decampment: the lack of critical acclaim and small sales numbers for the Phantom, the first BMW-developed Rolls.   It should perhaps be noted that Gott was also the head of the Bentley brand, but apparently made a swift departure from that position as well after disagreements with managers from Bentley’s parent company, VW.

By c_diken@yahoo.com
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Tony Gott has handed in his resignation as Chairman and CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Ltd., with BMW officials
citing “personal reasons” as a catalyst, quashing any rumors that RR’s parent company BMW AG may have asked Gott to
step down. Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, the director of RR’s worldwide marketing, will step in. One issue which may or may not
have anything to do with Gott’s decampment: the lack of critical acclaim and small sales numbers for the Phantom, the
first BMW-developed Rolls.   It should perhaps be noted that Gott was also the head of the Bentley brand, but
apparently made a swift departure from that position as well after disagreements with managers from Bentley’s parent
company, VW.