Current local boss is heading to Germany, replacement incoming from Japan.

BMW New Zealand will soon have a new managing director.

The incumbent, Adam Shaver (above), a Canadian who has been at the head of the local table for three and a half years, is moving to Germany.

He is to assume a new international role overseeing used cars and will base at the brand’s headquarters in Germany.

The fourth managing director for the marque’s local operation in 10 years when he started work in NZ on March 1, 2022, Shaver will be replaced by Francois Roca (below), a French national currently based in Japan, where he serves as a BMW Group executive director overseeing dealer development and annual sales.

Both men have interesting backgrounds in the motor industry.

Roca’s on line profile says he grew up in Japan, mastering Japanese. He is also fluent in French, English and Spanish.

After graduating university, he began with film and camera maker Kodak, then joined the automotive world in 1998, with the Renault-Nissan alliance, based in Paris, where he had responsibility to co-ordinate a ‘European Cross Company Team.’

In 2000, he moved to Tokyo to lead the Renault Asia Pacific marketing division, before taking the marketing leadership role in Japan.

His next corporate move came in 2008, when he joined the luxury Swiss travel company Kuoni, as the managing director for Japan.

By 2013 he was with BMW Group Japan as a director and general manager MINI. the latter achieved a 50 percent growth of sales in five years.

Shaver held senior sales and marketing positions across BMW and MINI in Munich and Canada prior to coming to NZ.

A BMW release today credits Shaver with having introduced to the NZ operation a new business structure and operating model focused on collaboration, digitalisation, and efficiency.

“Under his leadership, the New Zealand team has delivered strong results in challenging market conditions and significantly strengthened the relationships with the national retail network of 10 dealers.”

During his tenure, BMW’s overall national market share increased from 1.4 percent in 2022 to 2.2 percent as of April 2025. Its premium segments share also rose from 15.7 percent to 19.6 percent.

In 2024, BMW reclaimed No.1 in the premium segment for the first time in a decade — a trend that has continued into 2025, with first quarter registrations increasing 18.6 percent.

“We thank Adam for his outstanding leadership and the exceptional results he has achieved alongside the local team and our dealer network,” said Jean-Philippe Parain, senior vice president for the Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa sales regions.

“We look forward to welcoming him back to the company’s head office in Munich and look forward to his continued contribution in his new global role.”

Parain says Roca will come to NZ with a proven track record of building strong dealer relationships and delivering consistent sales growth.

“His global perspective and leadership experience will be a valuable asset to our New Zealand operations.”

Roca expressed his enthusiasm for the new role: “I am honoured to join the BMW Group New Zealand team and look forward to building on the strong foundation that Adam and the team have established.

“I’m excited to learn more about the local market and work closely with our retail partners across the country.”